Fruit and vegetable
consumption offers protection against
osteoporosis
A new American Journal
of Clinical Nutrition study finds that increased
fruit and vegetable consumption may strengthen
bones. Researchers at the University of Surrey,
UK, explored the association between fruit and
vegetable intakes and bone mineral status in a
cross-sectional study including participants
from five age and sex cohorts (adolescent boys
and girls, young women and older men and women).
Fruit and vegetable
intake was positively associated with increased
total body bone mineral density and bone mineral
content in adolescent girls and boys. In older
women a positive association was found between
bone mineral content and fruit intake. Based on
these results, a doubling of fruit intake in
older women would be expected to result in a
five percent increase in bone mineral content of
the spine.
Prynne CJ, Mishra GD,
O’Connell MA, Muniz G, et al. Fruit and
vegetable intakes and bone mineral status: a
cross-sectional study in 5 age and sex cohorts.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2006;83:1420-1428.