QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Harris, M. M. Articles by Lohman, T. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Harris, M. M. Articles by Lohman, T. G.

---

Nutrition and Aging

Dietary Iron Is Associated with Bone Mineral Density in Healthy Postmenopausal Women¹

Margaret M. Harris^*,2, Linda B. Houtkooper, Vanessa A. Stanford, Carly Parkhill, Judith L. Weber^**, Hilary Flint-Wagner^*, Lauren Weiss, Scott B. Going^*, and Timothy G. Lohman^*,2

^* Department of Physiology and Department of Nutritional Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721; ^** Department of Pediatrics, Center for Applied Research and Evaluation, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202; Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY

²To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: mharris1309{at}yahoo.com or stanford{at}u.arizona.edu.

Healthy nonsmoking postmenopausal women (n = 242; ages 40–66 y) were included in the Bone, Estrogen, and Strength Training (BEST) Study. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at five sites (lumbar spine L₂–L₄, trochanter, femur neck, Ward’s triangle and total body) using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Mean nutrient intakes were assessed using a 3-d diet record. Regression models were calculated using each BMD site as the dependent variable and iron as the independent variable. Covariates included in the models were years past menopause, fat-free mass, fat mass, use of hormone replacement therapy, total energy intake and dietary intake of protein and calcium. Using linear models, iron was associated with greater BMD at all sites (P 0.01), even after adjusting for protein and/or calcium. Increasing levels of iron intake (>20 mg) were associated with greater BMD at several bone sites among women with a mean calcium intake of 800-1200 mg/d. Elevated iron intake was not associated with greater BMD among women with higher (>1200 mg/d) or lower calcium intakes (<800 mg/d). Dietary iron may be a more important factor in bone mineralization than originally thought and, its combined effect with calcium on BMD warrants exploration in future studies.

KEY WORDS: • bone mineral density • dietary calcium • dietary iron • postmenopausal women

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S.-i. Katsumata, R. Katsumata-Tsuboi, M. Uehara, and K. Suzuki Severe Iron Deficiency Decreases Both Bone Formation and Bone Resorption in Rats J. Nutr., February 1, 2009; 139(2): 238 - 243. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. McClung, N. E. Andersen, T. N. Tarr, C. H. Stahl, and A. J. Young Physical Activity Prevents Augmented Body Fat Accretion in Moderately Iron-Deficient Rats J. Nutr., July 1, 2008; 138(7): 1293 - 1297. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. W Nieves Osteoporosis: the role of micronutrients Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2005; 81(5): 1232S - 1239S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. R Akabas and K. R Dolins Micronutrient requirements of physically active women: what can we learn from iron? Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2005; 81(5): 1246S - 1251S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Maurer, M. M. Harris, V. A. Stanford, T. G. Lohman, E. Cussler, S. B. Going, and L. B. Houtkooper Dietary Iron Positively Influences Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women on Hormone Replacement Therapy J. Nutr., April 1, 2005; 135(4): 863 - 869. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. M. Medeiros, B. Stoecker, A. Plattner, D. Jennings, and M. Haub Iron Deficiency Negatively Affects Vertebrae and Femurs of Rats Independently of Energy Intake and Body Weight J. Nutr., November 1, 2004; 134(11): 3061 - 3067. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]