The effect of past and present lifestyle, nutrition habits, and gender on bone mineral density

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the gender and age differences of the quantitative osteo-sono assessment index (OSI) and the effects of the past and present lifestyle and nutrition habits on OSI in adult males and females from 20 to 70 years of age. The subjects were 155 males (20- 79 years) and 399 females (20-78 years). The bone mass was estimated by the right-calcaneal OSI using an ultrasonic transmission method with an AOS-100 device (ALOKA). The frequency of tests for OSI in women tended to increase rapidly in the 50-70 age group requiring close examination or guidance. In 50-70 year- old females, the proportion of dairy products and vitamin D intake in the past (junior high school and high school days) was significantly lower in the group requiring close examination or guidance (OSI < 2.428) than in the normal group (OSI ≧ 2.428). That is, there was insufficient calcium intake (through dairy products) and vitamin D intake, which is instrumental in calcium absorption, (through fish, chicken eggs, and fungi) during puberty, when bone mass increases with skeletal growth. In conclusion, the number in the group requiring close examination or guidance was high for 50-70 year-old males and females. The OSI decreases rapidly in females after their 50s and the number in the group requiring close examination or guidance increased rapidly.