Analysis of frequency of selected food intake in the women of postmenopausal osteoporosis

Introduction. Structure changes of the bone tissue connected with age and hormonal activity are also depended on other factors such as quality of consumed products including calcium. The main point of this study was an assessment of quantity and frequency of intake of this products in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Objective. The aim of this study was an assessment of quantity and frequency of intake of the most important food affecting calcium metabolism in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis and first of all to give an answer to following research questions: 1. How is molding the level of intake of high-calcium products with reference to recommended norms in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis? 2. How was molded the intake of high-calcium products between 11 and 18 years of live? 3. How is molding the intake of products having essential influence on bone mass loss in analyzed groups? Material. The research was carried out from October 2006 to March 2007. All the patients were qualified to the research group on the basis of densitometry examination of the spine. All patients are currently treated in osteoporosis clinics in Krakow. The subjects were group of 60 women, aged 49 to 91 (average age 69 years). Most of the patients (54 people) live in Krakow, the rest of the research group (6 persons) live in Myoelenice and Wieliczka. Method. The research were done using of specially structured questionnaire. Part one of the questionnaire constituted general questionnaire which contained personal details, questions about taking medicines, concomitant diseases and hormone metabolism. Part two (detailed questionnaire) consisted of 37 questions. Those questions were related to quantity and frequency of consumption of high calcium content food and in reverse there were some questions about products that can have harmful effects on calcium metabolism. Additionally the patients were asked about frequency and steadiness of using vitamins and mineral components. The last questions compared valuable products consumption with those products consumption at patients’ young age. Results. The average frequency of intake of milk and other products with high-calcium content was lower with reference to recommended norms in research group. There was relatively low average of intake of high-calcium products during childhood (11 - 18 years) in research group. Additionally there was observed the excessive consumption of coffee and tea resulted in the loss of bone weight. Conclusions. 1. The intake of high-calcium products molds on lower level with reference to recommended norms in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. 2. The intake of high-calcium products during childhood stays on low or medium level. 3. The consumption of products resulted in the loss of bone weight molds on excessive level.