Osteoporosis: more bone density through fish oil and sports

Exercise and simultaneous intake of omega-3 fatty acids can increase bone density in postmenopausal women by as much as 19 percent. This is shown by research conducted by researchers at Urmia University (Iran) and the University of Missouri (United States). According to Nutrition and Metabolism, Omega-3 and exercise promoteincreased bone density as well as reduced expression of molecules associated with inflammatory processes, such asinterleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor al pha (TNF-alpha). The authors of the research concluded that the combination of Omega-3 and aerobic physical activity offers many more benefits than exercise alone or simply taking fatty acid supplements.

Omega-3 and exercise against osteoporosis

Women at risk for osteoporosis are the individuals who could benefit most from this therapeutic combination . Osteoporosis is a disease afflicting about 75 million people in Europe, the United States, and Japan. It mainly affects the fairer sex. In postmenopausal women, female hormones play less of a protective role in bones: therefore, the risk of developing this disorder is higher than in the rest of the population. Decreased bone mass is tamong the main features this disease. This leads to an increased risk of fracture in the wrist, hip, and spine.

Exercise and Omega-3 to strengthen bones

The researchers included 79 postmenopausal women, aged 58 to 78 years, in the study. These were arbitrarily assigned to 1 of 4 possible treatment groups:

- some women have been instructed to take capsules containing 180 milligrams of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 120 milligrams of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), for a total of 1 gram of Omega-3 per day;

- others did not take any supplements, but were assigned an exercise program that included walking and jogging 3 times a week;

- a third group of participants simultaneously took the capsules and performed the exercises;

- the group of women constituting the control portion did not take Omega-3 or follow any exercise program.

At 24 weeks into the study, researchers measured parameters related to bone density and markers of inflammation. The bone density of the lumbar portion of the spine in women who exercised and took Omega-3 was increased by 15%. Similarly, at the level of the femoral neck and hip bone density had increased by 19%. A decrease in IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels was also observed in this group of patients, by 40 and 80 percent, respectively. These beneficial effects were not observed in any of the other groups of women involved in the research.

Inflammation and bone density, 2 associated parameters

The authors of the study pointed out that the decrease in molecules associated with inflammation correlated with the increase in bone density. Therefore, they hypothesized that the point of connection between these 2 parameters is the cells responsible for bone formation and regeneration:

- osteoblasts, which strengthen bone by synthesizing tissue;

- osteoclasts, which destroy bone, weakening it.

This would explain why a decrease in proinflammatory molecules leads to the increase in bone density.    

Source 

1. Tartibian B, Hajizadeh Maleki B, Kanaley J, Sadeghi K, "Long-term aerobic exercise and omega-3 supplementation modulate osteoporosis through inflammatory mechanisms in postmenopausal women: a randomized, repeated measures study," Nutr Metab (Lond). 2011 Oct 15;8(1):71. [Epub ahead of print].