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OBJECTIVES: There is evidence to suggest that higher serum concentration of carotenoids is protective of osteoporosis, although studies have shown inconsistent findings. The majority of studies on serum carotenoids and bone have been conducted in predominantly non-Hispanic white populations. This study examined the relationship between serum total carotenoids and bone mineral density (BMD) and odds of osteoporosis among Puerto Rican older adults. METHODS: Data are from the Boston Puerto Rican Osteoporosis Study, a prospective cohort of Puerto Rican adults aged 47 to 79 y (n = 907). Serum total carotene (ug/dL) concentration was measured by fasting blood sample at baseline and 2-year follow-up. A cumulative average of the two measures was calculated. BMD (g/cm2) at the hip and lumbar spine sites were measured using dual x-ray absorptiometry. Multivariable analysis of covariance models tested associations between serum total carotenoids and BMD outcomes and multivariable logistic regression models examined associations with odds of osteoporosis. Models were adjusted for age, height, estrogenic (male, non-menopausal or taking hormone replacements, no estrogen) status, BMI, alcohol use, smoking status, calcium intake, and serum vitamin D and triglycerides. RESULTS: Participants were primarily female (72.1%), mean age: 59 years ± 7.4 and mean serum carotenoids: 93 ug/dL ± 34.2. Serum total carotenoids were not associated with BMD at the trochanter (β = 0.16 ± 0.13), femoral neck (β = 0.09 ± 0.13), total hip (β = −0.46 ± 0.18), or lumbar spine (β = 0.11 ± 0.14) (P = 0.16–0.50). Further, there was no association between serum carotenoids and odds of osteoporosis after adjusting for potential confounding (OR = 1.00, 95%CI: 0.99, 1.01). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that dietary factors other than total carotenoids may be more important for bone health among Puerto Rican adults. Further research is needed to confirm these results. Investigation of individual dietary carotenoids may provide additional insight into the associations with bone in this population. FUNDING SOURCES: NIH (P01 AG023394, P50 HL105185, R01 AG027087). SEN is supported by K01 AR067894.

OBJECTIVES: To examine risk factors for bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis at the femoral neck (FN) and lumbar spine (LS) in a cross-sectional study among Puerto Rican adults, 47- 77 y. METHODS: The Boston Puerto Rican Osteoporosis Study (BPROS) is an ancillary study to the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study, a cohort of 1504 Puerto Rican adults from the Greater Boston area. A total of 973 participants participated in the BPROS, where data on sociodemographics, health and health behaviors, and medication use were collected through questionnaire, and anthropometrics measured. Dietary intake and supplement use were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Fasting blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis. BMD (g/cm(2)) at the FN and LS (L2-L4) was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Linear regression models estimated associations between risk factors and FN and LS BMD and logistic regression for osteoporosis (T-score ≤ −2.5 g/cm(2)) at the FN and/or LS. A total of 680 participants had complete data on risk factors and bone measures. RESULTS: Average age of participants was 59.9 y ± 7.6 y and 71.3% were women. The prevalence of osteoporosis was 10.6%. Age was inversely associated with FN BMD (Table 1). BMI and height were positively associated with BMD. Neither calcium intake from food sources nor plasma 25-OH vitamin D were associated with BMD (P > 0.36). Bone medication and calcium supplement use were inversely associated with BMD, likely due to reverse causation. Magnesium intake from supplements was positively associated with LS and FN BMD (β = 0.07, P = 0.006 and β = 0.05, P = 0.008). Moderate alcohol consumption was associated with lower odds of osteoporosis, compared to no intake (OR: 0.40, P = 0.02; Table 2). Current smoking (vs. never smokers) was associated with increased odds of osteoporosis (OR: 2.5, P = 0.02). Magnesium from supplements was associated with lower odds of osteoporosis (OR: 0.41, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to expectation, dietary calcium and plasma 25-OH vitamin D were not associated with bone. Interestingly, magnesium intake from supplements was associated with higher BMD and lower odds of osteoporosis. This requires further investigation, as this may serve as a feasible intervention to improve BMD and decrease risk of osteoporosis in this high-risk population. FUNDING SOURCES: NIH/NIAMS K01 AR067894, NIH P50 HL105185, P01 AG023394, and R01 AG027087. SUPPORTING TABLES, IMAGES AND/OR GRAPHS