A Study to Examine the Correlation between Nutritional Status with Bone Health of Young Adult College Students of Two Different Communities (Tribal and Non-Tribal) by Anthropometric Measures and Urinary Indices

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to correlate the nutritional status with bone health of young adult college students of two different communities respectively by anthropometric measures and urinary indices and quantitative ultrasonography. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Human Physiology Laboratory, Tripura Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Hapania, Amtali, Tripura (West) 799130, India between October 2011 to March 2013. Methodology: This study was undertaken in college students of two different communities, Tribal (n=60; male: 30; female 30) and non-Tribal (n=100; male: 50; female: 50), aged between 18 to 21 years.  Nutritional status was assessed by measuring height, weight, body mass index (BMI), mid upper arm circumference (MUAC), fat-free mass (FFM), muscle mass (MM) and bone health by measuring skeletal mass (SKM) and urinary  indices like calcium, phosphate, creatinine, Ca:Cr ratio and hydroxyproline: creatinine ratio and quantitative ultrasonography (QUS). Results: Apart from clear observations of significant community and gender variations in anthropometric measurements and indices for assessing nutritional status( MUAC, FFM,MM) and bone health (SKM), prevalence of chronic energy deficiency (CED) was observed more in tribal (25%), than non-tribal (11%) population. A sparse population was observed overweight (tribal 6.67%; non-tribal 8%) and there was no record of obesity. Urinary excretion of markers for bone turnover also revealed significant community and gender variations, and except calcium, no other markers crossed normal reference range. Correlation analyses between anthropometric nutritional markers and urinary bone health markers revealed both positive and negative significant relationships. Regression analyses further revealed strongest association of FFM with SKM explaining 17% to 81% variance. Bone mineral density assessment by QUS diagnosed osteopenia in the studied population irrespective of gender and community. Conclusion: Results indicate that nutritional status has significant correlation with bone health and nutritional deficiency may cause adverse effect on bone.