Omega-3s counteract age-related decrease in bone density

Omega-3 supplements: stronger bones even in old age

Eating fish high in Omega 3 counteracts a decrease in bone density, an indicator of osteoporosis and fracture risk. This is the conclusion reached by researchers at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University in Boston, United States. The research leading to this finding, the results of which were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, adds a new piece to the mosaic of the benefits of Omega-3s for bone health.

Benefits of Omega-3s for bones and skeleton

The bone benefits of a diet rich in Omega-3s have long been known. Studies in animal models have shown that increased consumption of these fatty acids positively influences bone tissue health. Recent research has established more specifically thatfish oil, an Omega-3-rich dietary supplement, protects againstosteoporosis associated with aging and that long-term intake of these nutrients can improve the structural and mechanical properties of bones.

Fatty acids and bone density

Boston researchers wanted to examine specifically the association between Omega-3 intake (or fish consumption) and bone mineral density. Their analysis was based on data collected during the Framingham Osteoporosis Study, a study funded by the National Institutes of Health since 1987, during which participants were tested for bone density. The authors of the research considered 3 factors:

• fish consumption;
• Omega-3 introduced through the diet;
• Mineral density of hip bones.

The study involved 854 people between 1988 and 1989 and, 4 years later, subjects with an average age of 75 years. It was found that, in both men and women, high fish consumption for 4 years allowsbone mineral density at the femoral neck toremain unchanged. Specifically, to avoid losing bone tissue, it is necessary to consume at least 3 servings of fish per week. In women, a high intake of arachidonic acid (AA) (an Omega-6 fatty acid) corresponds to higher femoral neck mineral density only if the amount of dietary Omega-3 EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) intakes are equal to or higher than average. In contrast, high consumption of another Omega-6,linoleic acid (LA), is associated with a loss of density in this portion of the female skeleton. In men, the situation is reversed: in those who consume the lowest amounts of EPA and DHA, high doses of arachidonic acid correspond to a greater decrease in the mineral density of this bone.

Healthy bones with Omega-3s, but not Omega-6s

The authors of the research concluded that fish, one of the foods richest in Omega-3, may protect against bone loss. The potential protective effect of Omega-6 arachidonic acid would depend on the amount of EPA and DHA introduced through the diet.