Determination of peak trabecular bone density: Interplay of dietary fiber, carbohydrate, and androgens

To elucidate mechanisms linking nutrition and sex hormones to magnitude of peak trabecular bone density, we studied 11 normal women aged 19-21 y. Trabecular bone density was related inversely to dietary fiber (r = -0.69, p = 0.02) and carbohydrate (r = -0.70, p = 0.02) and directly to serum free-and-albumin-bound testosterone (fab T) (r = 0.70, p = 0.02) and total testosterone (total T)(r = 0.66, p = 0.03). Dietary fiber was correlated negatitively with fab T (r = -0.74, p = 0.009), total T (r = -0.70, p = 0.02), and androstenedione (Adione)(r = -0.72, p = 0.01). Controlling for the effect of fab T or Adione weakened the relationship between dietary fiber and bone density and the relationship was no longer statistically significant. Conversely, controlling for sex hormones did not abolish the effect of carbohydrate on bone density. The contributions of fab T and carbohydrate to bone density were independent. These results suggest that dietary fiber may depress serum androgens which in turn decrease trabecular bone density. Carbohydrate may also depress bone density but independently of sex steroid hormones.