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Dietary fat intake and the risk of osteoporotic fractures in the elderly

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 61, pages 1114–1120 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To explore the association between fat intake, serum lipids and the risk of osteoporotic fractures in the elderly.

Design:

A hospital-based case–control study.

Setting:

The study was conducted at a tertiary centre and referral hospital for the province of Jaén (Spain).

Subjects:

Cases (n=167) were patients aged 65 years or more with a low-energy fracture selected from the population attended at the hospital. Controls (patients without antecedents of any fracture) were 1:1 matched to cases by sex and age (n=167).

Methods:

Diet was assessed by a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Serum total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were also measured.

Results:

Participants in the two upper quartiles of polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) intake showed an increased risk of fracture, with statistically significant differences with respect to the first quartile in the adjusted model (odds ratio (OR)=3.59; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.06–12.1 and OR=5.88; 95% CI=1.38–25.02); P=0.01 for the trend test). A higher ratio of monounsaturated fat (MUFA) to PUFA was associated with a reduced risk of fracture (OR=0.20; 95% CI=0.07–0.60 for the fourth quartile; P=0.002 for the trend test). The intake of omega-6 fatty acids was associated with an elevated risk of fracture (OR=3.41; 95% CI=1.05–11.15 for the fourth quartile; P=0.01 for the trend test). HDL-cholesterol levels were inversely associated with the risk of fracture (test for trend P=0.03 across quartiles).

Conclusions:

PUFA intake was associated with an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures in the elderly, whereas a high ratio of MUFA:PUFA was associated with decreased risk.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (Spanish Ministry of Health) PI011245.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital of Jaén & Division of Medicine, Service of Endocrinology and Nutrition, University of Jaén, Navarra, Spain

    M J Martínez-Ramírez

  2. Division of Preventive Medicine & Public Health, University of Jaén, Navarra, Spain

    S Palma & M Delgado-Rodríguez

  3. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Navarra, Navarra, Spain

    M A Martínez-González & C de la Fuente

  4. Hospital of Jaén & Division of Surgery, Service of Traumatology & Orthopaedics, University of Jaén, Navarra, Spain

    A D Delgado-Martínez

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  1. M J Martínez-Ramírez
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  2. S Palma
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  4. A D Delgado-Martínez
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  5. C de la Fuente
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M A Martínez-González.

Additional information

Guarantor: M Delgado-Rodríguez.

Contributors: MJ M-R, M D-R, MA M-G were responible for the study design. MJ M-R, S P, ADD-M collected the data. MA M-G, C de la F carried out the nutrient analysis. Statistical analysis was carrried out by M D-R, S P, MA M-G. Draft was prepared by MJ M-R, MA M-G and M D-R. Funding was provided by AD D-M, M D-R, MJ M-R.

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Martínez-Ramírez, M., Palma, S., Martínez-González, M. et al. Dietary fat intake and the risk of osteoporotic fractures in the elderly. Eur J Clin Nutr 61, 1114–1120 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602624

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602624

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