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Effect of dietary intake on serum calcium levels and bone mineral density of menopausal women of Ludhiana city, India

Sixty women of 45-55 years, belonging to middle income group were selected on basis of their Bone Mineral Density (BMD) from a – “Clinic After Forty” of Ludhiana city, Punjab. Serum calcium and BMD were tested using techniques called o-Cresolphthalein complexone (oCPC) method and Dual energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) respectively. Subjects were given nutrition counseling (NC) twice a month for a period of 4 months. Assessment of nutritional status was done by dietary survey and anthropometric parameters before and after study. Dietary survey revealed that daily intake of milk and milk products (p<0.05), roots and tubers (p<0.01), green leafy vegetables (GLVs) (p<0.01), other vegetables and fruits (p<0.01) increased significantly whereas intake of sugar and jaggery and fats and oils (p<0.01) decreased significantly after NC. Intake of beta carotene, vitamin C, iron, calcium and phosphorus also increased significantly. Mean weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) waist-circumference, hip circumference and WHR decreased significantly after NC. Biochemical assessment revealed significant improvement in serum calcium levels and BMD from 7.82mg/dl to 8.99mg/dl (p<0.01) and -2.2 to -2.01 (p<0.01) respectively. Subjects were classified as osteopenic and osteoporotic on basis of their t-scores. Majority of the subjects were osteopenic and the rest were osteoporotic. But after NC %age of osteopenic subjects increased while %age of osteoporotic subjects decreased. Study emphasized the importance of NC to bring about positive changes in dietary intake of menopausal women which in turn improved their serum calcium levels and BMD. Hence NC can be taken as an effective and sustainable tool to tackle osteoporosis as it is a serious public health issue among Indian menopausal women.