Prudent and traditional dietary patterns are positively and negatively associated with bone mineral density in Iranian adults, respectively.

To assess the association of dietary patterns and bone mineral density (BMD), 340 healthy Iranian adults (mean age 41.5 ± 7.7 y; 79.1% female) participated in this cross-sectional study. Lumbar spine and femoral neck BMDs were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Dietary intakes were evaluated by a valid and reliable 168-item food frequency questionnaire, and three major dietary patterns were identified using principal component factor analysis. Mean values for lumbar spine and femoral neck BMDs in participants were 0.96 ± 0.13 and 0.92 ± 0.12 g/cm, respectively. After controlling for age, body mass index, physical activity, energy intake, sunlight exposure, gender, education, employment status, supplement intake, and smoking in the analysis of covariance models, multivariable adjusted means of femoral neck BMD of participants in the highest tertile of the prudent pattern score (rich in green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, tomatoes, yellow vegetables, fruits and fruit juices, olives, nuts, fish, low-fat dairy products, and ) were significantly higher than those in the lowest tertile (mean difference and 95% CI: 0.043 [0.003; 0.083] g/cm,  = 0.032). In contrast, multivariable adjusted means of lumbar spine BMD of participants in the highest tertile of the traditional pattern score (high in , vegetable oils, salt, legumes, pickles, cruciferous vegetables, refined grains, potatoes, and organ meats) were significantly lower than those in the lowest tertile (mean difference and 95% CI: -0.057 [-0.098; -0.015] g/cm,  = 0.003). The Western pattern was not associated with BMD. In conclusion, the prudent and traditional dietary patterns are positively and negatively associated with BMD in Iranian adults, respectively.