Effects of a low sodium diet on bone metabolism

J Bone Miner Metab. 2005;23(6):506-13. doi: 10.1007/s00774-005-0621-8.

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a serious public health problem, and dietary interventions may potentially be helpful in preventing this disorder. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a low sodium diet on bone metabolism in postmenopausal women. This was a longitudinal study to determine the effects of a low sodium (2-g/day) diet on bone. Forty postmenopausal African-American and Caucasian women were enrolled in a 2-g/day sodium diet for 6 months. Sodium and calcium excretion, bone turnover, and calcitropic hormones (intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D) were measured before and 6 months after the intervention. In women who had baseline sodium excretions equal to or greater than the average sodium intake in the United States (> or =3.4 g/day), the low sodium diet resulted in significant decreases in sodium excretion (P = 0.01), in calcium excretion (P = 0.01), and in a biomarker of bone turnover, aminoterminal propeptide of type I collagen (P = 0.04). However, there were no significant changes in calcitropic hormones, including intact PTH (P = 0.97) or 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D (P = 0.49) with the low sodium diet. These findings suggest that in postmenopausal women with sodium intakes > or =3.4 g/day, a low sodium diet may have benefits for skeletal health.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Black or African American
  • Bone Density
  • Bone and Bones / metabolism*
  • Calcium / urine
  • Collagen / urine
  • Collagen Type I / analysis
  • Creatinine / urine
  • Diet, Sodium-Restricted*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Middle Aged
  • Peptides / urine
  • Procollagen / analysis
  • Sodium / urine
  • White People

Substances

  • Collagen Type I
  • Peptides
  • Procollagen
  • collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide
  • Collagen
  • Sodium
  • Creatinine
  • Calcium