FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INTAKE IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN WITH OSTEOPENIA

AbstractINTRODUCTION: Adequate intake of fruits and vegetables as part of the daily diet couldhelp prevent major non-communicable diseases including osteoporosis. Some nutrientsabundant in fruits and vegetables have been shown to affect bone health. In the presentstudy we evaluated fruit and vegetable intake in postmenopausal women with osteopeniawho had referred to bone mineral densitometry center of Shariati hospital in Tehran.METHODS: The present cross-sectional study was carried out on ۵۱ healthypostmenopausal women aged ۴۵-۶۰ years. Bone mineral density was measured by DualEnergy X-ray Absorptiometry at lumbar spine and total hip. All women were osteopenicaccording to WHO criteria. Food groups’ intake was assessed by ۲ days ۲۴ hour recall.Bone resorption was calculated by measuring carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type Ι collagen(crosslaps) and bone formation by measuring serum osteocalcin.RESULTS: No significant correlation was found for current food groups’ intake and bonemineral density at either lumbar spine or total hip. Fruit and vegetable intake wassignificantly negatively correlated with osteocalcin level (r = -۰.۴, P< ۰.۰۰۱). Serumosteocalcin level in those who consumed more than ۴۰۰ grams of fruit and vegetable dailywas significantly lower than in the others (۱۸±۶.۵ compared with ۳۰±۱۳.۷, P<۰.۰۵).DISCUSSION: Increasing fruit and vegetable intake up to WHO recommendations forprevention of many chronic diseases can also be effective in prevention of osteoporosis andreducing fracture risk in postmenopausal osteopenic women. Intake of at least ۴۰۰ grams offruits and vegetables daily can complement what is currently recommended for osteoporosisprevention.Keywords • Fruit and vegetable intake • Osteoporosis • Non-communicable diseases