STORM2K

Vegans Have Lower Bone Density
Nicky Phillips, ABC Science Online

July 2, 2009 -- Vegans have lower bone densities than non-vegans, researchers have concluded.

But the news isn't all bad, with the study finding an animal-free diet doesn't translate into more fractures.

The findings, published today in the American Journal of Nutrition, came out of a review of previous studies that included more than 2,500 individuals.

Research has shown that low bone density, a predictor for osteoporosis, increases the risk of bone fracture.

Epidemiologist and lead author Tuan Nguyen, of Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research Garvan Institute of Medical Research , said there are four main factors that influence bone density: genetics, hormones, exercise and nutrition.

He expected vegans, those who avoid eating animal products, would have lower bone density and therefore a higher risk of bone fracture. The study found that on average vegans had a bone mass density 5 percent lower than non-vegans. But Nguyen said the study found vegans were no more likely to be treated for bone fractures than non-vegans.

This is probably because vegans tend to be more health conscious, he said.

"If you look at vegetarians as a whole they are certainly healthier, they tend to live longer and have lower risk of hypertension and heart disease." And there are other factors that may override the influence bone density has on fracture risk such as hormone deficiencies, smoking and lifestyle, said Nguyen.

The study also found women have lower bone densities and a higher risk of fracture.

"About 70 percent of fractures in the elderly occur in women," said Nguyen.

It's not clear why women have higher bone loss than men, but the common assumption is that the loss of oestrogen after menopause speeds up bone loss, he said. "We know oestrogen is very important in regulating bone formation and bone re-absorption."

Nguyen suspects lower levels of calcium, needed for bone formation, in the diets of vegans results in lower bone density compared with non-vegans. But he admits overall calcium is only a small contributor to bone density.

Nutritionist Rosemary Stanton agrees with Nguyen, saying that calcium is important but it is only one factor in bone density.

"The push to have everyone eat massive amounts of dairy products is invalid," she said.

Stanton said what's missing from the study is a differentiation between a good and bad vegan diet.

"Just as you can have a good omnivorous diet and bad one, so too with vegan diets," she said.

Stanton also said the study failed to consider the effects of vitamin D.

"Vitamin D is probably the most important factor in the way calcium is used and studies are showing now that a lot of people don't get enough Vitamin D."

Nguyen agress and suggests vegans monitor their calcium and vitamin D intake.

Other great apes, like chimpanzees, eat animal protein.


If one can make a concious effort to get a balanced diet without meat or dairy, all the better, but PETA types take it to the level of religion.

For me, a rare treat, but nothing beats a rare cooked tuna steak, still reddish in the middle.

Ed Mahmoud wrote:Other great apes, like chimpanzees, eat animal protein.


If one can make a concious effort to get a balanced diet without meat or dairy, all the better, but PETA types take it to the level of religion.

For me, a rare treat, but nothing beats a rare cooked tuna steak, still reddish in the middle.

I am currently wiping the drool off of my keyboard.

There is nothing better than a good steak!!! Period.

HURAKAN wrote:There is nothing better than a good steak!!! Period.

You got that right.
As a matter of fact my coals are about white, they are just awaiting the 2 juicy steaks marinating on my counter.
By request from my girls who just got home from camp.

Some people feed their cat or dog a vegan diet. No meat period. Cats are carnivores and they need meat because they need taurines for their vision.

Ptarmigan wrote:Some people feed their cat or dog a vegan diet. No meat period. Cats are carnivores and they need meat because they need taurines for their vision.

Some people treat animals like they were humans. I support treating animals with love but they are still animals and should eat and live like animals. Treating them like humans just make them weaker.

Ed Mahmoud wrote:For me, a rare treat, but nothing beats a rare cooked tuna steak, still reddish in the middle.

Nah, cooking ruins it. Just slice it into sashimi!

A vegan diet makes little sense from a health perspective. At the same time, the diet we tend to eat in the US is much too heavy in meat, and also doesn't make sense from a health perspective. A few ounces of meat a day is probably the ideal from that perspective. I'm guilty of eating too much of it, and we're trying to seriously reduce our meat consumption. In addition to health benefits, it also makes meals much less expensive.

gtalum wrote:

Ed Mahmoud wrote:For me, a rare treat, but nothing beats a rare cooked tuna steak, still reddish in the middle.

Nah, cooking ruins it. Just slice it into sashimi!

A vegan diet makes little sense from a health perspective. At the same time, the diet we tend to eat in the US is much too heavy in meat, and also doesn't make sense from a health perspective. A few ounces of meat a day is probably the ideal from that perspective. I'm guilty of eating too much of it, and we're trying to seriously reduce our meat consumption. In addition to health benefits, it also makes meals much less expensive.

OMG we agree again!!! * vb swoons* I'll take it either way. In fact we are taking family out for sushi tomorrow for D-in-laws birthday.

Moderation in everything, folks - one hot dog every six months (with sauerkraut and mustard, for me) isn't going to hurt a person - but two a week might...

An old friend of mine was a strict vegetarian, but she had constant problems with migranes, perhaps the result of not enough animal fats, so, moderation is the key, though not having more than a certain percentage of animal fats is better...

P.S. Oops - didn't mean to step on you, vbhoutex...

vbhoutex wrote: I'll take it either way.

Hey I will too, I was just beign disagreeable.

In seriousness, next time you go fishing, if you catch a fish you really like just slice some of it up right on the boat and eat it. Delicious. There is nothing on earth as delicious as sushi that was swimming just a few minutes earlier.

I would never succeed at or want to be a vegan, but I became a vegetarian at the age of ten, which lasted for seven years.... Originally I made the decision on moral grounds but after a year or two I had matured and learned enough of the world to get myself past any moral qualms....at that point it was just a matter of proving to myself and to everybody else that I could. By the time I was 17, a friend and I were going through the drive-thru at Jack-In-The-BOX and instead of getting the potato wedges, fries, condiment sandwich, or salad, etc., that I would normally get while my friends gorged on burgers....I decided to get a Bacon Cheeseburger and OH GOD IT WAS GOOD! I haven't looked back.

The best thing about re-eating meat again was that every time I ate a burger, strip of bacon, pork chop, steak, Thanksgiving turkey, hot dog, balogna sandwich, or anything meaty, for the first time in seven years....it was like the best meal I ever ate.

I didn't eat fish or poultry, but I did eat dairy and eggs during those seven years. My mother was always worried that I wasn't getting enough protein, but I had plenty of protein from dairy and eggs and beans. Ironically I had some bloodwork done around age 15 and discovered that I had a Vitamin B-12 deficiency....a vitamin commonly found in leafy green vegetables. Probably because I usually replaced my caloric intake with lots of pasta, potatoes, and junkfood....instead of actually eating my vegetables. I had the self-discipline to not eat any delicious meat for seven years, but I was (and still am) terrible about taking vitamins or anything else once-a-day-everyday.

I blame seven years without eating meat for the fact that I'm only 5'8" at age 21 while my 18 and 17 year old brothers are both pushing 6 foot. But I think I had plenty of calcium from milk and other dairy, so that shouldn't be the culprit....but if you'd go back in time and tell my ten-year-old self that I'd never grow to be 6 feet tall if I decided to be a vegetarian.... ....I'd have never gone through with it!

I like tuna and salmon sashimi as much as the next guy, but

1) I have heard there is a risk of parasites. (Although I'm husky, big boned, pleasantly plump, etc. and maybe a parasite wouldn't be all bad)

2) The chilled nature of the sashimi is part of the mouth feel and enjoyment for me.

A nice filet, medium rare, sauteed mushrooms and a nice salad with Thousand Island Dressing on the side - YUMMY. OOPS, I forgot the nice glass of cabernet sauvignon.

My aunt was a vegan and lived into her eighties. But she was rather sickly and had all manner of allergies. I firmly believe that had she not stuck to eating strictly vegetable matter, she would have become a healthy centenarian. (In general, Barbadians love to eat meat and our life expectancy is one of the highest in the world. The older folk also eat lots of ground provisions.)

IMO, eating a well balanced diet is the key.

Pburgh wrote:A nice filet, medium rare, sauteed mushrooms and a nice salad with Thousand Island Dressing on the side - YUMMY. OOPS, I forgot the nice glass of cabernet sauvignon.

Oh HON!!! You and I are so on the same page!!!!