Bologna University scientists led a study, believed to be the first of its kind, to investigate the effect of the Mediterranean diet on bones – and weight – adding to the growing string of health benefits linked to the diet.

Nearly 1,150 volunteers were followed over a year. Their bone density was measured both at the start and end of the EU-funded trial, which involved British, French, Dutch and Polish researchers.

Half of the participants, who were all aged between 65 and 79, were asked to follow a Mediterranean diet. The others were not.

For volunteers with normal bone density, the diet had no significant impact. But, it was found to offer benefits for osteoporosis patients.

A Mediterranean diet consists mostly of fruit, vegetables, nuts, olive oil and fish and could prevent millions of at risk patients from breaking their hips.

Who is affected

Osteoporosis affects over two million people in the UK; more than double the number of people affected by dementia. Every year 300,000 people suffer a fragility fracture (a broken bone resulting from a fall at standing height or less), including over 70,000 hip fractures and women are more at risk than men.

1,150 people die every month in the UK following a hip fracture and the UK has one of the highest rates of fracture in Europe.

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a progressive condition that leads to more fragile bones as you get older. Fragile bones are more likely to break easily, and bones in your wrist, hip and spine are particularly vulnerable.

Bone is a living tissue and new bone replaces old bone throughout life. But in later life, the cells that build new bone can’t work as quickly as the cells that remove old bone. This leads to an overall loss of bone tissue, which makes bones weaker and more fragile.

About 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men over 50 will break a bone (fracture) because of osteoporosis so it is important to keep your bones healthy.

Because there are no signs of osteoporosis until you break a bone, or have a scan to reveal it, it can help to know what may increase your risk factors:

There is no single cause of osteoporosis. Your risk of developing it is linked to factors that can lead to weak bones, which include:

•  Family history of osteoporosis or if one of your parents has broken a hip
• Being over 50 years old
• Gender – osteoporosis is more common in women
• Low body weight
• Certain medical conditions – such as rheumatoid arthritis, hyperthyroidism and Crohn’s disease
• Certain medications – such as steroids and some treatments for Crohn’s disease
• Unhealthy lifestyle – low physical activity, smoking, excessive alcohol, lack of calcium and vitamin D.

What can you do to reduce your risk?

This new research indicates that millions of osteoporosis patients should eat a Mediterranean diet to lower their odds of breaking their hip.

This diet also has many other advantages as it confers health benefits including wight loss, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and cancer.

The study authors declared that “Sticking to a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, nuts, unrefined cereals, olive oil and fish can stave off bone loss in sufferers as they grow older.”

This also means cutting down on salt, red meat and sugary drinks and foods and reducing saturated fats, but the odd glass of red wine is also encouraged!.

The role of progesterone

Throughout our lives our bones are broken down and replaced with new bone. It is oestrogen that clears away old bone, but it is progesterone that builds new bone.

Often women are given only oestrogen HRT to help with osteoporosis but this is only half the story.  Oestrogen will prolong old bone but unless there are also good levels of progesterone strong new bone is not being built to replace the old weakened ones.

Helpful information: 

Osteoporosis prevention needs a number of things: good hormone levels, plenty of weight bearing exercise and a diet that also includes good levels of vitamin D which the researchers also gave to the participants.

As well as progesterone a good bone health supplement is also essential for women with osteopenia or osteoporosis: look for a specific combination of vitamin D, essential bone nutrients vitamins C, D and K and minerals Calcium, Magnesium, Boron and Manganese.

Good, progesterone levels are also essential, and if you’d like to know more about the link between bone building and that specific hormone this article will help.

https://anna.blog.wellsprings-health.com/the-key-role-of-progesterone-for-osteoporosis/