Aim: Adequate nutrition supports optimal bone development and prevents later metabolic bone diseases. The aim of this study was to assess calcium dietary intake and measure calcaneal bone mineral density and based on the obtained values to evaluate gender and age impact on the values itself as well as on their correlation.
Methods: Subjects recruited for this study were 120 healthy adults. Calcaneal bone mineral density was measured by quantitative ultrasound and expressed as estimated bone mineral density (eBMD). Calcium intake was assessed using ten 24-hours recalls.
Results: Values were compared between age and gender based sub-groups. The average value of eBMD of the study group was 0.543 g/cm2. There was no difference between females and males in eBMD. The average daily dietary intake of calcium was low (661 mg/day), and males had statistically significantly higher daily dietary intake than females (805 mg/day and 599 mg/day, respectively). The younger group had higher average value for eBMD (0.560 g/cm2), and higher dietary intake of calcium (10.5 mg/kg of body weight) than the older group (eBMD=0.527 g/cm2; calcium intake=9.4 mg/kg of body weight), but the difference was not significant.
Conclusion: Lack of statistically significant difference in eBMD values between two observed study subgroups based on the years of age, and low eBMD value itself, are obvious evidence of the compromised bone health status within the study population as well as the need for preventive actions.