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Nutrition Epidemiology Highlights Original Article

A fruit, milk and whole grain dietary pattern is positively associated with bone mineral density in Korean healthy adults

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 69, pages 442–448 (2015)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Osteoporosis is a major health problem that will grow in burden with ageing of the global population. Modifiable risk factors for osteoporosis, including diet, have significant implications for disease prevention. We examined associations between dietary patterns and bone mineral density (BMD) in a Korean adult population.

Subjects/Methods:

In total, 1828 individuals from the Healthy Twin Cohort were included as subjects. Information on general characteristics, lifestyles and health status was obtained through a health examination, and BMD was assessed using DEXA. Dietary intake was assessed using a 3-day food record, and dietary patterns were examined by factor analysis. Associations between dietary patterns and BMD were examined using mixed linear regression, adjusting for family and twin structure as well as other potential risk factors for bone health.

Results:

Four dietary patterns were identified (Rice and kimchi; eggs, meat and flour; Fruit, milk and whole grains; and Fast food and soda). The ‘Fruit, milk and whole grains’ pattern was associated with a reduced risk of having low BMD in men (odds ratio (OR)=0.38; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.22–0.67) and women (OR=0.45; 95% CI=0.28–0.72) and was positively associated with BMD at multiple sites. The ‘rice and kimchi’ pattern had a positive association with only whole-arm BMD in men and women.

Conclusions:

Our results suggest that a dietary pattern with high intake of dairy products, fruits and whole grains may contribute positively to bone health in a Korean adult population, and dietary pattern-based strategies could have potential in promoting bone health.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Genome Research Institute, Korea, National Institute of Health research contract (budgets 2005-347-2400-2440-215, 2006-347-2400-2440-215, 2007-347-2400-2440-215, 2008-E71007-00, 2009-E71010-11, 2010-E71010-00, 2011-E71011-00 and 2012-E71002-00). This study was supported by a grant of the National Project for Personalised Genomic Medicine, Ministry for Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (A111218-12-GM10). The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and not necessarily any funding body.

Author Contributions

S Shin: contributed to data analyses and wrote the draft of the manuscript; J Sung: collected data and provided significant advice; H Joung: conceived of and designed the study and critically reviewed the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

    S Shin, J Sung & H Joung

  2. Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

    S Shin, J Sung & H Joung

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Correspondence to H Joung.

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Shin, S., Sung, J. & Joung, H. A fruit, milk and whole grain dietary pattern is positively associated with bone mineral density in Korean healthy adults. Eur J Clin Nutr 69, 442–448 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2014.231

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