A diet pattern intended for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction is associated with higher bone mineral density (BMD) in older Puerto Ricans

CVD and osteoporosis, two major public health problems, are linked by several mechanisms. Given this, our objective was to assess the potential relationship between a dietary pattern intended for CVD risk reduction and bone health in 466 Puerto Rican adults, aged 45–75 years living in the greater Boston area. We previously developed and validated a unique diet and lifestyle score (AHA‐DLS) based on the 2006 American Heart Association Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations (AHA‐DLR) for CVD risk reduction. BMD at the lumbar spine (L2‐L4) and proximal femur were measured using dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Mean (SD) AHA‐DLS score was 27.9 (9.9) out of a total possible 100. Multiple linear regression indicated significant positive associations between AHA‐DLS and BMD of the femoral neck, trochanter, and total hip (β=0.007–0.008 for every 5 unit increase in AHA‐DLS, P ≤ 0.05). Femoral neck, trochanter, and total hip BMD was higher with increasing energy‐adjusted tertiles of AHA‐DLS ( P ‐trend ≤ 0.05). Analyses were adjusted for age, BMI, height, current smoking, education, season of BMD measurement, plasma vitamin D, intakes of total energy and calcium, osteoporosis medication and multivitamin use, acculturation, and perceived stress. Our findings suggest that dietary guidelines for CVD prevention are consistent with those associated with bone health in older Puerto Ricans. Synchronizing dietary guidelines may provide a simplified public health message for chronic disease risk reduction.