Applied nutritional investigationNutritional and biochemical parameters associated with 6-year change in bone mineral density in community-dwelling Japanese women aged 69 years and older: The Muramatsu Study

ObjectivePredictors of bone loss in elderly Asian women have been unclear. This cohort study aimed to assess lifestyle, nutritional, and biochemical predictors of bone loss in elderly Japanese women.MethodsSubjects included 389 community-dwelling women aged 69 y and older from the Muramatsu cohort initiated in 2003; follow-up ended in 2009. We obtained data on physical characteristics, osteoporosis treatment (with bisphosphonates or selective estrogen receptor modulators), physical activity, calcium intake, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, undercarboxylated osteocalcin, serum albumin, and bone turnover markers as predictors. The outcome was a 6-y change in forearm BMD (ΔBMD). Osteoporosis treatment was coded as 0 for none, 1 for sometimes, and 2 for always during the follow-up period. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of ΔBMD.ResultsMean age of the subjects was 73.3 y. Mean values of ΔBMD and Δweight were −0.019 g/cm2 (−5.8%) and −2.2 kg, respectively. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed baseline BMD (β = −0.137, P < 0.0001), osteoporosis treatment (β = 0.0068, P = 0.0105), serum albumin levels (β = 0.0122, P = 0.0319), and Δweight (β = 0.0015, P = 0.0009) as significant independent predictors of ΔBMD. However, none of the other nutritional or biochemical indices were found to be significant predictors of ΔBMD.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that adequate general nutrition and appropriate osteoporosis medication, rather than specific nutritional regimens, may be effective in preventing bone loss in elderly women.