Dietary antioxidant quality score (DAQs) is associated with bone mass assessed by calcaneal quantitative ultrasound in young women

INTRODUCTION Evidence suggests that intake of antioxidants could positively influence bone mass by preventing bone metabolism against oxidative stress. OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate the possible influence of single antioxidant intakes and dietary antioxidant quality score (DAQs) on calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) in a population of young adults. METHODS A total of 605 young Spanish adults participated in this study (median age 20.38 ± 2.67). Bone mass was measured by calcaneal QUS to determine broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA, dB/MHz) parameter. Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis and dietary intakes were determined using a 72-hour diet recall interview. DAQs was applied to calculate antioxidant nutrients intake. Linear regression analyses were performed to investigate the possible influence of DAQs on calcaneal QUS. RESULTS Most of young adults showed a low-quality antioxidant intake (only 17.6% of women and 20.3% of men had a score of 4 or 5 in DAQs). A positive correlation between DAQs and BUA was observed in women (r = 0.117; p = 0.024). Linear regression analysis revealed that DAQs was significantly associated with BUA parameter in women after adjusting by body weight, height, calcium intake and physical activity (PA) (p = 0.035). No significant associations between single antioxidant and calcaneus QUS measurement were found. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that high-quality antioxidant intakes could influence bone health in young women. Future studies should further investigate the protective role of antioxidant nutrients against osteoporosis.