Osteoporosis: omega-3s protect bones and reduce the risk of hip fracture
Consumption of fish and other omega-3-containing products is associated with a lower risk of osteoporosis and hip fracture, according to a recent study conducted in adults 20 years and older.The protective effect of foods rich in EPA, DHA and ALA is due to the ability of these molecules to promote Calcium reabsorption in the gut and reduce inflammatory processes underlying bone loss.
The discovery was made by researchers at the University of Larestan, Iran, and published in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, in recent months.
Osteoporosis and fractures: a health emergency that mainly affects the elderly
Osteoporosis and bone fractures are a widespread health problem that affects men but especially women in adulthood. Osteoporosis is a condition that makes bones brittle and less resistant, increasing the risk of fractures. Affected individuals may experience a bone fracture after a minor bump or simple fall in the course of normal daily activities. The decrease in bone mass caused by osteoporosis especially favors fractures of the wrist, vertebrae, and hip. The latter is very common in the elderly population, and usually involves the fracture of an area of the femur known as the "femoral neck." Femoral fracture is associated with high disability, morbidity, and mortality. In fact, 30 percent of people over age 65 who suffer such a fracture die after one year from a combination of ailments that begin with the disability caused by the accident and often continue with loss of independence. The pathogenesis of hip fracture is complex, but it has been shown that compromised bone strength, decreased bone mineral density, and fall trauma can promote this type of dramatic event. Several studies have shown that physical activity, alcohol consumption, obesity, cigarette smoking, and diet are factors that influence bone mineral density, and thus also the risk of fractures. Certain behaviors may be helpful in preventing osteoporosis and femur fracture:
- Doing regular exercise
- Maintaining an ideal weight
- Consume adequate intake of valuable bone nutrients such as Calcium and Vitamin D
- Talk to your doctor and undergo a risk assessment
- Avoid smoking and alcohol
Considering the alarming prevalence of hip fracture in the population, medical research is paying close attention to determining the factors that contribute to it, often yielding conflicting results, particularly regarding the role of diet. Among the dietary factors that seem to most influence the risk of hip fracture is the consumption of fruits, vegetables, red meat, fish, dairy products, Magnesium, and vitamin D. Some research has found an inverse association between fish consumption and bone fracture risk, while others have shown a link with omega-3 and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) consumption, but not with fish consumption.
A diet rich in omega-3s may have a protective effect against osteoporosis
The present study sought to evaluate the association between fish consumption, dietary omega-3 intake and the likelihood of hip fracture by summarizing the results of previous studies and analyzing them statistically. Specifically, the Iranian researchers brought together and analyzed several research studies that investigated the role of EPA, DHA and ALA in protecting bone fractures. Specifically, results from 19 studies were selected and analyzed to carry out this work, involving a total of 292,657 participants aged 20 years and older. The results revealed an inversely significant association between fish consumption and hip fracture risk. In addition, dietary intake of total omega-3 was inversely associated with the likelihood of this type of fracture. However, when analyzing the effects of ALA, EPA and DHA separately, as subgroups of omega-3s, the researchers observed no significant association. The mechanisms underlying the protective effects of fish and omega-3 consumption are different: polyunsaturated fatty acids in fact increase calcium absorption in the gut and reduce calcium excretion in the kidney, also inhibit the action of inflammatory molecules, such as IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha facilitating bone resorption and suppression of bone formation, and increasing the production of resolvins, substances that quench inflammation and inhibit bone resorption.
Some details of the study
The purpose of this search was to summarize the current evidence on the association between fish consumption and omega-3 intake with hip fracture risk. Publications on this topic were searched using major online databases, such as PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and Embase, and selecting scientific articles published by August 2017, using relevant keywords. To group the data, the study authors used appropriate mathematical models, and Cochran's Q test to assess heterogeneity among different papers. In total, 10 publications were included in a systematic review, i.e., a synthesis of studies conducted on a given topic, and 9 studies were used for a meta-analysis, i.e., a statistical analysis of the set of results from independent studies.
Mediterranean and fish-rich dietary pattern to fight osteoporosis
According to the researchers who developed it, this research is the first to summarize so much data to evaluate the association between the consumption of omega-3-rich foods and the likelihood of hip fracture. From their results, it can be concluded that consumption of EPA, DHA and ALA may have protective effects on bone health and decrease the risk of hip fracture. In line with these results, some previous studies have revealed that fish, and in general foods containing high percentages of omega-3s, protect against osteoporosis and bone fractures, and that greater adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet is associated with a lower risk of hip fractures.
Source: Omid Sadeghi, et al."Dietary intake of sh, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and risk of hip fracture: A systematic review and metaanalysis on observational studies." Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition.
