The reverse association of dietary antioxidant index with osteoporosis in postmenopausal iranian women: A case–control study

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis, a prevalent bone malady, is prevalent in Iran. Several studies have represented the role of dietary antioxidants on osteoporosis. The dietary antioxidant index (DAI) is a valid and reliable index, which indicates a comprehensive view of dietary antioxidant capacity. This study aimed to survey the relationship of the DAI with the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women in Iran. This research aimed to examine the association between the DAI and the risk of osteoporosis among postmenopausal women in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this case–control study, 440 postmenopausal women (220 cases and 220 controls) were enrolled. The dietary intake of contributors was evaluated using a 147-item food frequency questionnaire. To estimate the DAI, the amount of six antioxidant micronutrients such as Vitamins A, C, and E, selenium, manganese, and zinc was standardized. Then, the DAI was estimated by collecting the standardized consumption of these antioxidant micronutrients. RESULTS: Our findings represented the participants in the first (crude odds ratio [OR] = 1.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13–2.85, P = 0.013) and second (crude OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.01–2.55, P = 0.043) tertiles of the DAI scores had significantly higher odds of osteoporosis compared to those in the third one; while after modifying for confounding factors, this significant reverse relationship was observed just between women in the first and third tertiles of the DAI scores (adjusted OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.34–3.18, P = 0.015). CONCLUSION: The consequence of this study suggested that adherence to a diet rich in antioxidant compounds may have protective effects against osteoporosis.