High‐impact physical activity, total calcium intake and body weight predict bone mineral density in healthy Canadian men

While much is known about bone health in later years, very little is known about bone health in young, healthy Canadian men. To identify predictors of bone mineral density (BMD) in a sample of young, healthy Canadian men. Caucasian men aged 18–25 years completed demographic, health and physical activity questionnaires as well as a calcium and vitamin D‐specific food frequency questionnaire. Height and weight were measured. BMD of the total hip, femoral neck, spine and total body was measured using dual energy x‐ray absorptiometry. Backwards stepwise linear regression was used to predict BMD. BMD results for 77 men who completed the study are presented in Table 1. Weight‐bearing, high impact physical activity, total calcium intake and body weight were significant predictors of bone mineral density in young, healthy Canadian men. Source of Research Support: Social Science and Humanities Research Council & Learning Enhancement Fund Grant