[Calcium and protein intake and bone markers in premenopausic and posmenopausic women with normal bone mineral density from Comodoro Rivadavia (Argentina)].

Unlabelled: Healthy premenopausal women (Pre n=28) and posmenopausal (Pos n=22), living in Comodoro Rivadavia (Argentina), with normal femoral neck and lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) were studied. Usual daily calcium intake (CaI) and protein intake (PrI) were calculated according to an special questionaire and the National Food Composition Tables. Fasting blood samples and 24 h urine were collected. Laboratory measurements were: in urine (U): calcium (Ca), creatinine (Crea) and deoxypiridinoline (Dpyr); in serum: Bone Alkaline Phosphatase (BAPh). The results presented the following media +/- SD (minimum - maximum) in Pre and Pos, respectively: CaI (mg/d): 694 +/- 411 (190 - 2,117); 918 +/- 304 (471 - 1740) (p < 0.01); PrI (g/d): 64.6 +/- 25.4 (33.5 - 136); 63.7 +/- 17.6 (41.5 - 95.2); daily UCa (mg/d): 123 +/- 85 (20 +/- 369); 114 +/- 66 (17 - 252); Ca/crea (mg/mg): 0.124 +/- 0.086 (0.014 - 0.372); 0.131 +/- 0.077 (0.020 - 0.338); Dpyr/crea (nM/mM): 5.5 +/- 1.5 (3.4 - 10.3); 7.1 +/- 2.3 (3.9 - 14.5) (p < 0.01); BAPh (UI/l): 58 +/- 12 (28 - 94); 70 +/- 20 (32 - 99) (p < 0.01). CaI was lower than the Adequate Dietary calcium intake in 86% and 82% of the Pre and Pos women, respectively. There was no correlation between CaI, PrI and the biochemical indicators.

Conclusions: in these healthy women, without bone mass loss and with wide range of CaI, although usually low, markers of bone turnover, would be a balance between the increase of bone formation and resorption.