A Structural Equation Modelling Approach to Determine Factors of Bone Mineral Density in Korean Women

Background: no studies have assessed the associations of nutrient intake, physical activity, age, and body mass index (BMI) with bone mineral density (BMD) using structural equation modelling (SEM) in Korean women. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of nutrient intakes, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI) on BMD in Korean premenopausal and postmenopausal women, with the SEM approach, based on the fourth and fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) 2008–2011. Methods: SEM analysis was performed with 4160 women (2863 premenopausal women and 1297 postmenopausal women) aged 30–75 years in order to investigate total, direct, or mediating effects of nutrient intake, physical activity, age, and BMI on BMD. Model sensitivity to external misspecification and statistical significance of SEM was determined by phantom variables and bootstrapping. Reliability assessment of the SEM was done by Cronbach’s alpha. Results: a direct effect of minerals (potassium, calcium, and phosphorus) on BMD (total femur, femoral neck, lumbar spine, and whole body) was observed in premenopausal and postmenopausal women (p = 0.045 and p = 0.048, respectively). Age and BMI showed a total effect on BMD in premenopausal and postmenopausal women (p = 0.002, respectively). Conclusions: our study suggests that mineral intake (potassium, calcium, and phosphorus), age, and BMI are major contributors to BMD in Korean premenopausal and postmenopausal women aged 30–75 years.