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Published on: January 29, 2018
Association between geriatric nutrition risk index and bone mineral density in elderly Chinese people
Bijuan Qing1,2, Nan Wang2, Lingling Wang2
1Department of Endocrinology, ZhuJiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China.
Abstract:
Malnutrition contributes to the occurrence of osteoporosis. This study showed that participants with higher GNRI values had higher levels of BMD. GNRIs were positively correlated with BMD and independently associated with total hip T-score. GNRIs may be a good indicator for identifying elderly who need further bone health nutritional support.
Purpose:
To evaluate the relationship between geriatric nutrition risk index (GNRI) and bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly Chinese people.
Methods:
We recruited 1130 older adults (60-89 years old) between May 2018 and December 2019. Participants underwent clinical, laboratory, and densitometry examinations. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry densitometers and corresponding software were used to assess the BMD and T-scores of participants. Differences between study groups were assessed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for continuous variables and the chi-square test for categorical variables. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between two variables. Multivariate linear regressions with or without adjustments were constructed to explore the possible confounding variables.
Results:
Individuals with higher GNRI values had higher total hip and lumbar spine T-scores (P < 0.001, P = 0.029, respectively). Pearson's correlation demonstrated that GNRIs were positively correlated with BMD at different anatomical sites, in both sexes but especially in women. A multiple regression demonstrated that GNRIs were independently associated with total hip T-score in both sexes (β = 0.111 for men and 0.174 for women; P = 0.034 and 0.008, respectively).
Conclusions:
Elderly people with higher GNRI values had higher total hip and lumbar spine T-scores, which suggested that GNRI is closely related to BMD. This relationship is maintained at the total hip, even after fully adjusting for possible confounding variables, and consequently, it may be a good indicator for identifying older people who need further bone health nutritional support.
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