Nutrient Intake, Dairy Consumption, Past Fractures, and Lifestyle Correlates of Forearm Bone Mineral Density in Adolescent Boys with Myelomeningocele.

Active boys with MMC had significantly higher bone density and content measures compared to inactive boys with MMC.

• The active MMC group (n=30) compared to the inactive group (n=33) had significantly higher BMD dis and prox, BMC dis, and Z-scores.
• Effect sizes were characterized as medium (Hedges' g: medium effect).
• Study included 63 boys with MMC aged 11.9 ± 1.8 years.
• Physical activity was measured in min/day and groups were classified as active vs. inactive.

Distal forearm BMD was significantly associated with number of dairy products consumed per day and protein intake.

• Number of dairy products (n/day) showed a significant relationship with BMD dis (F = 6.66; η² = 0.116).
• Protein intake (g/day) showed a significant relationship with BMD dis (F = 15.27; η² = 0.230).
• The effect size for protein intake on BMD dis (η² = 0.230) was larger than that for dairy products (η² = 0.116).
• Diet was assessed using an FFQ and 24-hour dietary recalls, with energy, protein, and calcium intake calculated using Diet 6.0 software.

Distal forearm BMC was significantly affected only by physical activity.

• PA (min/day) was the only significant predictor of BMC dis (F = 9.80; η² = 0.161).
• Neither dairy intake nor protein intake reached significance as predictors of BMC dis.
• The effect size η² = 0.161 indicates a moderate association.

Proximal forearm BMD was significantly associated with number of dairy products consumed per day and protein intake.

• Number of dairy products (n/day) showed a significant relationship with BMD prox (F = 9.95; η² = 0.163).
• Protein intake (g/day) showed a significant relationship with BMD prox (F = 12.95; η² = 0.202).
• Effect sizes were similar to those observed for distal BMD, with protein showing a larger effect than dairy intake.

Proximal forearm BMC was significantly affected only by physical activity.

• PA (min/day) was the only significant predictor of BMC prox (F = 4.39; η² = 0.079).
• The effect size η² = 0.079 for proximal BMC was smaller than for distal BMC (η² = 0.161).
• Neither dairy intake nor protein intake was a significant predictor of BMC prox.

The study design was cross-sectional and used forearm densitometry to measure bone parameters in a sample of 63 adolescent boys with myelomeningocele.

• BMD and BMC were measured in the distal and proximal parts of the forearm by densitometry.
• Sample comprised 63 boys with MMC aged 11.9 ± 1.8 years, divided into 30 active and 33 inactive participants.
• Data were also collected on past fractures and body composition.
• Diet was assessed using an FFQ and 24-hour dietary recalls; energy, protein, and calcium intake were calculated using Diet 6.0 software.