Associations of oxidative balance score with lumbar spine osteopenia in 20–40 years adults: NHANES 2011–2018

Current research suggests that oxidative stress may decrease bone mineral density (BMD) by disrupting bone metabolism balance. However, no study investigated the relationship between systemic oxidative stress status and adult BMD. This study aims to investigate whether oxidative balance score (OBS) is associated with BMD in adults under 40.

3963 participants were selected from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2018. OBS is scored based on 20 dietary and lifestyle factors. Weighted multiple logistic regression and restricted cubic splines were used to assess the correlation between OBS and osteopenia.

After adjusting for confounding factors, the weighted logistic regression results showed that compared with the first tertile of OBS, the highest tertile had a 38% (OR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.47–0.82) lower risk of osteopenia. The restrictive cubic spline curve indicates a significant nonlinear correlation between OBS and the risk of osteopenia.

The research findings emphasize the relationship between OBS and the risk of osteopenia in young adults. Adopting an antioxidant diet and lifestyle may help young adults to maintain bone mass.