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Cited by 705Bone health and osteoporosis researchNutritional Studies and DietNutrition and Health Studies

Potassium, magnesium, and fruit and vegetable intakes are associated with greater bone mineral density in elderly men and women

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Tucker, Katherine L, Hannan, Marian T, Chen, Honglei, Cupples, L Adrienne, Wilson, Peter WF, Kiel, Douglas P·1999·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
DOI 10.1093/ajcn/69.4.727
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Abstract

Background Osteoporosis and related fractures will be growing public health problems as the population ages. It is therefore of great importance to identify modifiable risk factors.Objective We investigated associations between dietary components contributing to an alkaline environment (dietary potassium, magnesium, and fruit and vegetables) and bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly subjects.Design Dietary intake measures were associated with both cross-sectional (baseline) and 4-y longitudinal change in BMD among surviving members of the original cohort of the Framingham Heart Study. Dietary and supplement intakes were assessed by food-frequency questionnaire, and BMD was measured at 3 hip sites and 1 forearm site.Results Greater potassium intake was significantly associated with greater BMD at all 4 sites for men and at 3 sites for women (P < 0.05). Magnesium intake was associated with greater BMD at one hip site for both men and women and in the forearm for men. Fruit and vegetable intake was associated with BMD at 3 sites for men and 2 for women. Greater intakes of potassium and magnesium were also each associated with less decline in BMD at 2 hip sites, and greater fruit and vegetable intake was associated with less decline at 1 hip site, in men. There were no significant associations between baseline diet and subsequent bone loss in women.Conclusion These results support the hypothesis that alkaline-producing dietary components, specifically, potassium, magnesium, and fruit and vegetables, contribute to maintenance of BMD.

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  • Organic nitrate NO donors such as glycerol trinitrate, isosorbide dinitrate, and mononitrate all have beneficial effects on experimental and clinical osteoporosis, and a number of epidemiological studies indicated that high fruit and vegetable intake appears protective against osteoporosis in men and pre- and postmenopausal women.

    “In this context, it has been shown that organic nitrate NO donors, such as glycerol trinitrate, isosorbide dinitrate and mononitrate all have beneficial effects on experimental and clinical osteoporosis [161,162,163], and a number of epidemiological studies also indicated that a high fruit and vegetable intake appears to have a protective effect against osteoporosis in men and pre- and post”

    From NO-Rich Diet for Lifestyle-Related Diseases (2015) · cites this paper as [165]

  • Retrospective cross-sectional studies in larger cohorts showed that K+ intake is positively associated with Bone Mineral Density (BMD).

    “Retrospective cross-sectional studies in larger cohorts showed that K + intake is positively associated with Bone Mineral Density (BMD) [ 157 , 158 ].”

    From Sex differences in potassium regulation: evidence, molecular mechanisms and clinical implications (2026) · cites this paper as [158]

  • In cross-sectional and 4-year longitudinal analyses of the Framingham Heart Study survivors (n = 1164, mean age: 75y, 62% women), K+ intake was associated with higher BMD in both men and women.

    “In cross-sectional and 4-year longitudinal analyses of the Framingham Heart Study survivors (n = 1164, mean age: 75y, 62% women), K + intake was associated with higher BMD in both men and women [ 158 ].”

    From Sex differences in potassium regulation: evidence, molecular mechanisms and clinical implications (2026) · cites this paper as [158]

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Ascherio A, Stampfer MJ, Coldtiz GA, Rimm EB, Litin L, Willett WC. Correlation of vitamin A and E intake with plasma concentra- tions of carotenoids and tocopherols among American men and women. J Nutr 1992;122:1792-801.
  2. Sojka JE, Weaver CM. Magnesium supplementation and osteoporo- sis. Nutr Rev 1995;53:71-4.
  3. Cohen L, Kitzes R. Infrared spectrospcopy and magnesium content of bone mineral in osteoporotic women. Isr J Med Sci 1981;17:1123-5.

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Authors
Tucker, K. L., Hannan, M. T., Chen, H., Cupples, L. A., Wilson, P. W., & Kiel, D. P.
Affiliations
Boston University (US)
Corresponding author
Tucker, Katherine L
ORCID
Venue
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1999-04
Volume
69
Issue
4
Pages
727-736
ISSN
0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1093/ajcn/69.4.727
OpenAlex
W1932641839
Cited by
705
References
56
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 40 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 35
FWCI
18.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • National Institutes of Health (R01 AR/AG 41398, n01hc038038-022)
  • Agricultural Research Service
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HC 38038, NO1-HC-38038, N01-HC-38038)
  • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R01 AR/AG 41398)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Bone health and osteoporosis research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutrition and Health Studies
Keywords
bone mineral density, potassium intake, dietary magnesium, fruit and vegetable intake, alkaline diet, bone loss, osteoporosis, older adults, sex differences, hip bone, forearm bones, Framingham Heart Study
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diet, Diet Surveys, Female, Fruit, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Magnesium, Male, Potassium, Surveys and Questionnaires, Vegetables, Bone Density

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