In a prevalence report released in 2002, the National Osteoporosis Foundation predicted that, based on figures from that year, 61 million Americans would be diagnosed with osteoporosis by 2020. Characterized by brittle bones that are more susceptible to breaks and fractures, this condition is most common among women over the age of 50.
Currently, medical practitioners advocate that people incorporate calcium-rich foods including dairy products into their diets to fortify their bones against this disease. However, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism has revealed that other dietary alterations may help fend off the affliction.
For the study, Dr. José Manuel Fernández-Real from the Hospital Dr. Josep Trueta in Girona, Spain, randomly selected 127 men between 55 and 80. ScienceDaily reports that Dr. Fernández-Real and his team divided the subjects into three groups that were each fed distinctive diets – a low-fat diet, a mediterranean diet with mixed nuts and one with virgin olive oil.
Although the study was initially focused on the effects of these diets on the development of cardiovascular disease, after two years of observation, researchers discovered that the men who consumed the olive oil diet had higher levels of the bone-building protein osteocalcin in their blood. In addition, the amount of serum calcium in their systems had not decreased, as it had for the other men.
According to ScienceDaily, researchers in Europe have noted that osteoporosis is less common in the Mediterranean area of the continent, leading many scientists to speculate that some element of the regional diet contributes directly to bone strength. This study indicates that olive oil may be that ingredient.
In addition to bone-fortifying foods like olive oil and various dairy products, there are also a number of nutritional supplements available that promote bone health. To find out about the supplements we offer, click here.