LITTLE ROCK, Ark.--Dietary iron intake was associated with greater bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women, as noted by researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock. Their study, which appeared in the November issue of the Journal of Nutrition (133, 11:3598-602, 2003) (www.nutrition.org), also indicated dietary iron may be more important in bone mineralization than has been historically believed.
To investigate iron's effects on BMD, researchers analyzed data from the Bone, Estrogen and Strength Training (BEST) Study, which involved 242 women 40 to 66 years old. BMD was measured at five sites, and nutrient intakes were calculated from three-day diet records. An analysis of the data showed iron was associated with a greater BMD at all sites, even after adjusting for protein and calcium intakes. In women with a mean calcium intake of 800 mg/d to 1,200 mg/d, increasing levels of iron intake (greater than 20 mg/d) seemed to lead to greater BMD at several bone sites. However, in women with higher (greater than 1,200 mg/d) and lower (less than 800 mg/d) calcium intakes, elevated iron was not associated with BMD. Researchers suggested additional research is needed to clarify the synergistic effect calcium and iron have on BMD.
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