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Mediterranean diet may support bone strength

Category: General Health

New research suggests that a Mediterranean diet rich in virgin olive oil may help slow the rate of bone loss associated with conditions such as osteoporosis. This study may be relevant for individuals who hope to reduce their chances of screening positive for the condition in a lab test.

Previous studies linked the Mediterranean diet - which is full of olives, fruits and vegetables - to a lower incidence of osteoporosis in Europe. In order to investigate further, a team of scientists from Spain reviewed medical data collected from nearly 130 men aged 55 to 80 years, all of whom were participating in research to study the effects of the Mediterranean diet on heart health.

Subjects were assigned to eat a low-fat diet, a Mediterranean diet that emphasized mixed nuts or a Mediterranean diet that focused more on virgin olive oil.

Results showed that the last regimen was associated with higher levels of biomarkers for bone formation.

"This is the first randomized study which demonstrates that olive oil preserves bone, at least as inferred by circulating bone markers, in humans," said researcher Jose Manuel Fernandez-Real, M.D., Ph.D.

Individuals who are concerned about their bone health can undergo a lab test that measures markers for osteoporosis in their urine.