Bone mineral density in people of different diet and exercise history by using peripheral-dexa (p-dexa) scan

Abstract

We conducted a study to detect BMD  in adults of  veg and non-veg diet and exercising and nonexercising history by using heel dexa technique. Methods:We screened 173 total patients who attended a medical health camp conducted in Southern Karnataka. Their age ranged from 20  to 80 years. They were asked for dietary habits and exercise history before testing for heel bone mineral density using p-dexa technique. WHO equivalent for heel BMD were used to classify patients based on their t-score. Osteoporosis was considered when t - score was less than - 1.6. Osteopenia, when t-score was between -0.6 to -1.6. T-score above -0.6 was considered as normal. Statistical analysis was done using chi square test for data in frequency and percentages Results: 89 out of 173 patients were exercising and remaining 104 not exercising. 32 individuals were consuming vegetarian diet and remaining 141 mixed diet.Subjects with history of exercise had mean BMD of 0.48gm/cm2 and subjects without  history of exercise were  having mean BMD of 0.465gm/cm2  Thus exercising  subjects had  more  bone mineral density when compared to non exercising individuals but  not statistically significant. Vegetarians  had mean BMD of 0.46 gm/cm2 and people having mixed diet had mean BMD of 0.48gm/cm2  confirming more bone mineral density in non vegetarians  when compared to vegetarians but not statistically significant

 

Conclusion: Our data suggests that P-dexa is a useful technique in detecting and comparing Bone mineral density in exercising ,non exercising people  and in vegetarians and nonvegetarians.

Key words: Peripheral - dexa, calcaneus, BMD (bone mineral density), osteoporosis