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The Relationship between Dietary Pattern and Bone Mass in School-Age Children
Xuemei Liao1, Shanshan Chen2, Mengyang Su2
1Food Safety and Health Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Promoting early bone accrual is vital for adult bone health. A "fruit-milk-eggs" diet positively impacts bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) in Chinese school children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
- Bone Health Research
Background:
- Early bone accrual is crucial for lifelong skeletal health and preventing osteoporosis.
- Dietary patterns significantly influence bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) during critical growth periods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between dietary patterns (DPs) and BMC/BMD in Chinese school-aged children.
- To identify specific dietary habits that promote or hinder optimal bone development.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 465 children aged 6-9 years in China.
- Dietary patterns identified using principal component factor analysis.
- Total body (TB) and total body less head (TBLH) BMC and BMD measured via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
Main Results:
- Five distinct dietary patterns were identified.
- A "fruit-milk-eggs" pattern showed a positive association with TB and TBLH BMC.
- An "animal organs-refined cereals" pattern was linked to lower TB and TBLH BMC and BMD.
Conclusions:
- Dietary patterns significantly impact bone mineral accrual in school-aged children.
- Recommendations include diets rich in fruits, milk, and eggs, with moderate vegetables, coarse grains, and meat for optimal bone development.
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