| Objective To investigate the effect of food and exercise habits during the age from preschool to adults on bone mineral density (BMD). Methods BMD of the head, arm, leg, trunk, ribs, pelvis, spine, and the whole body was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The correlations between BMD of different skeletal sites and age, gender, height, weight, age of menarche or spermatorrhea, frequency of intake of milk or milk products, legumes or legume products, calcium supplements, and physical exercises from preschool to adulthood were investigated using the univariate analysis and multiple regression analysis. Results The study involved 36 men and 36 women aging from 20 to 31 years old. A statistically correlation was observed between intake frequency of legumes and legume products in adulthood and BMD of the trunk (r=0.273, P=0.020), pelvis (r＝0.245, P=0.038), and spine (r＝0.245, P=0.038). When stepwise regression models were analyzed, weight remained the strongest predictor of all skeletal site BMD except for the head (β＝0.356-0.793, P<0.05). Conclusion There is no association between BMD with frequency of calcium-rich food intake and physical exercises from preschool to adulthood. Weight is the main predictor of BMD in young Chinese adults. |