Journal of Hygienic Engineering and Design 81 Original scientific paper UDC 613.262:635.1/.6]:616.71-007.234-055.2 VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION AND BONE MINERAL DENSITY IN FEMALES Zora Uzunoska 1* , Tatjana Kalevska 1 , Viktorija Stamatovska 1 , Katerina Belichovska 2 , Daniela Belichovska 3 , Daniela Nikolovska Nedelkoska 1 , Tatjana Blazevskai 1 1 Faculty of Technology and Technical Sciences, University St. Kliment Ohridski - Bitola, Dimitar Vlahov bb, 1400 Veles, Republic of Macedonia 2 Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food, “St. Cyril and Methodius” University in Skopje, Blvd. Aleksandar Makedonski bb, 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia 3 Faculty of Environmental Resources Management, MIT University, Blvd. Treta Makedonska Brigada bb, 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia * e-mail: zora_51@hotmail.com Abstract Vegetables consisted of wide spectrum of nutrients are linked with lower bone turnover, especially bone resorption. For osteoporosis, the evidence from a com- bination of observational, experimental, clinical, and intervention studies strongly suggest a positive link between vegetable consumption and indexes of bone health. Objective of our research was to investigate the impact of the frequency of vegetable consumption on bone mineral density (BMD) in females. BMD was measured in 210 females by DEXA den- zitometar. For the manner of nutrition a questionnaire was used. The females were divided into 4 age groups, and 4 subgroups: those consuming vegetables on: daily bases; 3 - 5 times/week; 1 - 2 times/week; and non-con- sumers. Data analysis was performed by statistical pro- gram Statistica 7.1 for Windows and SPSS Statistics 17.0. The signifcance was determined by p < 0.05. 0 - 49 and above 69 years old females, did not have sig- nifcant diferences in BMD no matter of vegetable con- sumption. 50 - 59 years and 60 - 69 years old females on everyday consumption had signifcantly higher BMD compared to 3 - 5 and 1 - 2 weekly consumers (p < 0.001). However BMD between 3 - 5 and 1 - 2 weekly consumers did not difer signifcantly. The highest in- fuence on BMD/consumption/age ratio had every day consumption than 3 - 5 weekly consumption, while age had the weakest infuence. Every day consumers, no matter of age, had a lower percentage of osteopo- rosis and heavy forms of osteoporosis compared to no consumers (10.9% v. 50% and 17.2% v. 25%). Normal level of BMD was not identifed in no consumers group. Everyday consumption of vegetables has signifcantly positive impact on BMD of 50 - 59 and 60 - 69 years old females, and it can be considered as a natural option for Osteoporosis prevention, as well as protection fac- tor of critical BMD lowering to fracture threshold. How- ever in 40 - 49 and above 69 years of age the frequency of vegetable consumption have no such infuence. Key words: Vegetables, Bone Mineral Density, Osteoporosis, Females, Prevention. 1. Introduction Consumption of vegetables is a signifcant part of a healthy diet, because they contain a wide spectrum of nutrients in small and large quantities, such as: min- erals, vitamins, phytochemicals (favonoids), antiox- idants and fbers. Several studies suggest that a diet