(P14-096-23) Association Between Diet Quality and Bone Mineral Density in Women Who Are Post-Menopause and Overweight or Obese

Objectives: To examine the relationship between diet quality as measured by Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 and bone mineral density (BMD) measures: BMD, t-score, and z-score in women who are post-menopause with BMIs classified as overweight or obese.

Methods: Data from 118 participants from the Minnesota Green Tea Trial were used for this secondary analysis. Anthropometric measurements were taken by the study staff. Demographics, lifestyle characteristics, medical history, and medication use were assessed by a health history questionnaire. The HEI, as a diet quality index, was used to measure adherence to Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Food intake was determined using the Diet History Questionnaire. The food frequency data were used to calculate HEI scores. Whole body BMD was measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Statistical analysis included Pearson correlations, independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analysis adjusting for age, height, weight, android fat %, plasma leptin, alcohol intake, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin D.

Results: Mean age and BMI of the participants were 60.15 years and 28.00 kg/m², respectively. Most of the sample was White (n = 111, 84.1%) and all participants identified as non-Hispanic. Median (IQR) total calcium intake of 994.12 (635.59 – 1248.17) mg and median (IQR) total vitamin D intake of 215.61 (105.01 – 376.45) IU, revealed calcium and vitamin D intakes were less than recommended dietary intake levels. Mean ± SD BMD was 1.16 ± 0.10, while mean ± SD t-score was 0.79 ± 0.97. The mean total HEI score was 72.4. Mean (±SD) score of the dairy component was 7.13 ± 2.59, while mean scores in the whole grain, fatty acids, sodium, and saturated fats components were all less than 5.5, indicating diet quality in this sample could be improved. Total HEI score was not associated with any of the three BMD measures in multi-variable regression models.

Conclusions: The findings of this study show that the total HEI score is not associated with BMD measures and highlight opportunities for improved diet quality in women who are post-menopause and overweight or obese.

Funding Sources: National Cancer Institute (R01 CA127236)