Poor Socioeconomic and Nutritional Status Are Associated with Osteoporosis in Korean Postmenopausal Women: Data from the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2009

Abstract

Objective: As the population ages, osteoporosis is a growing global public health problem. This study examined potential risk factors associated with osteoporosis in a nationally representative sample of Korean postmenopausal women.Methods: This study used data from a nationally representative sample of Korean menopausal women participating in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey KNHANES 2009 (n = 1467; mean age ± SE = 65.2 ± 0.3 years). Bone mineral density of total femur, femoral neck, and spine was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Osteoporosis was determined as t-score of −2.5 or below in at least 1 of the 3 sites. Menopausal status was confirmed by self-reports.Results: About 41% of the study sample met the criteria for osteoporosis. Poor socioeconomic status, lower BMI, and shorter estrogen exposure duration were significantly associated with osteoporosis in the study sample. Poor dietary intake was also related to osteoporosis. In the age- and energy-adjusted logistic regression models, participants consuming less protein, vitamin B2, or vitamin C than the estimated average requirement (EAR) showed higher odds of having osteoporosis than their counterparts. Participants consuming no milk or milk products had 45% increased odds of having osteoporosis than those consuming milk or milk products.Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest several risk factors associated with osteoporosis, which can be addressed in the development and implementation of tailored nutritional interventions to promote the bone health of Korean postmenopausal women.