Project Number: 5450-51000-039-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Aug 01, 2005
End Date: Apr 30, 2009

Objective:
Enhance the quality of life through establishing mineral intakes that support optimal bone health. Specifically, determine the amount of dietary calcium needed to maximize calcium retention and minimize bone resorption in postmenopausal women; determine the extent to which dietary protein, specific mineral elements (zinc, copper, magnesium, and boron) and prebiotics (inulin) interact with dietary calcium to affect bone metabolism.

Approach:
Studies will utilize human subjects and animal models. Human studies will use the Mobile Nutrition Research Laboratory, the in-house Community Studies Unit, and the Metabolic Research Unit to conduct epidemiological supplementation, fortification, and controlled feeding experiments, respectively. In each case, subjects will be fed diets containing marginal to high amounts of mineral elements to determine how specific minerals, and interactions among them, affect bone structure (as determined by light microscopy, biomechanical assessment, and densiotometry) and biomarkers [urinary deoxypyridinoline, hemoglobin A1c, and C-reactive protein]). When relevant, the modifying influence of selected hormonal (e.g., estrogen deficiency) or diet compositional (e.g., inulin) factors will be examined.