DIETARY-INTAKE AND BONE-DENSITY MEASUREMENTS OF PEASANT FARMERS

Anthropometry and bone measurements were made on 81 rural subjects aged 19 - 72 years. The dietary pattern was almost vegetarian. The younger males (19 - 35 years) had a higher (P<0.05) energy and calcium intake compared to age-matched females. The males appeared taller than the females (P<0.02); body measurements (weight, height, body mass index) did not correlate with energy or calcium intake in either sex. Although the males had a higher metacarpal cortical area (CA) (P<0.01) than the females, the parcentage cortical area (PCA) was not significantly different. Although no relationship existed between body measurements and PCA for the sexes, an association was observed between PCA and age among the females. The relationship was positive (r = 0.576, P<0.05) for younger females, and negative (r = -0.759, P<0.02) for older females (> 5O years). The association between bones status and calcium intake r = 0.316, P<0.05) observed for the males was influenced by dietary energy. Data for the females showed a positive association between calcium intake and bone status after correcting for energy intake (r13 = 0.639, P<0.02; r13.4 = 0.677, P<0.02). The variation in response to calcium intake in the sexes might be due to differences in calcium absorption. Further studies adopting sensitive techniques would be needed to clarify, the interaction of nutrients and other factors in age on-set bone loss in the sexes.