Silicon intake and its relationship with bone mineral density in healthy Korean adults

Abstract

Silicon (Si) is the most abundant element next to oxygen and has been reported to play an important role in bone and connective tissue formation. However, the relationship between dietary Si intake in self‐selected diet and bone mineral density has not been well established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Si intake and investigate its relationship with bone mineral density in healthy adults using the data from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010‐2011). A total of 8,698 adults aged 19 to 64 years (male 3,693, female 5,005) were participated in this study. Daily Si intake of the total subjects was 30.87 mg (male vs. female; 35.20 mg/d vs. 26.52 mg/d, p<0.0001), and 15.12 mg per 1,000 kcal (male vs. female; 14.62 mg/1,000 kcal vs. 15.82 mg/1,000 kcal, p<0.0001). The bone mineral density of lumbar spine of the total subjects increased with increment of Si density of the diet (Q1 vs. Q4; 0.907 g/cm2 vs. 0.937 g/cm2) after adjusting age (p<0.0001). The similar results were found in the male and female subjects (p<0.0001, respectively). These results may represent that higher Si intake from the diet is associated with bone health promotion. “This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (2011‐0010880)”