English

Abstract

Objectives: To study the relationship between the nutritional status, serum bone mineral markers, 25 hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and ultrasound bone mineral density (USBMD) of Os Calcis in subjects living in endemic fluorotic and non-fluorotic villages. Methods: Subjects from fluorotic (n=57) and non-fluorotic (n=79) villages were studied for their dietary habits, biochemical parameters of bone mineral markers, 25(OH)D levels and correlated with stiffness index (SI) measured using Achilles ultrasound bone densitometer. Results: Dietary calcium intake in both the villages is far below the recommended daily allowances (RDA) by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India for Indian population. The 25(OH)D correlated positively with energy intake (r=0.7; p<0.001); dietary calcium (r= 0.5; p<0.001); and negatively with phytate/calcium ratio (r=0.2; p<0.001), in subjects in fluorotic villages. No similar correlation was observed among subjects from non-fluorotic villages. For comparable levels of serum calcium, subjects in non-fluorotic villages were more osteopenic than the fluorotic counterparts. USBMD did not correlate with 25(OH)D in the fluorotic and non-fluorotic subjects. Conclusions: The dietary calcium intake among subjects from fluorotic and non-fluorotic villages is less than the RDA suggested by ICMR. The 25(OH)D levels of both these villages were in the vitamin D insufficiency range. USBMD does not correlate with the 25(OH)D status of an individual and it should not be used for screening osteoporosis in areas endemic for fluorosis.