Polyunsaturated fat associated with bone mineral loss whereas saturated fat may offer protection

This study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2004 Jan;79(1):155-65

 

Study title and authors:

Nutritional associations with bone loss during the menopausal transition: evidence of a beneficial effect of calcium, alcohol, and fruit and vegetable nutrients and of a detrimental effect of fatty acids.

Macdonald HM, New SA, Golden MH, Campbell MK, Reid DM.

Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom. h.macdonald@abdn.ac.uk

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14684412

The menopausal transition is characterised by rapid bone loss. The objective of the study was to ascertain which dietary factors influence skeletal loss around the time of the menopause. In the study, the bone mineral density was measured at the start of the study and five years later in 891 women initially aged 45-55.

Regarding fat intake, the study found:
(a) A higher intake of saturated fat was correlated with a protective effect from bone mineral loss.
(b) A higher intake of polyunsaturated fat was correlated with lower bone mineral density

Saturated fat may help to prevent osteoporosis

This study was published in Acta Paediatrica 1995 Apr;84(4):388-92

Study title and authors:

Dietary calcium, saturated fat, fiber and vitamin C as predictors of forearm cortical and trabecular bone mineral density in healthy children and adolescents.

Gunnes M, Lehmann EH.

Cecor AS, Haugesund, Norway.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7795347

The study investigated the effects of diet (including saturated fat) on bone mineral density of the forearm in 495 healthy children (8-11 years) and adolescents (11-17 years).

Low bone mineral density in the forearm is associated with an increase in the risk of osteoporosis. A study published in the British Journal of Rheumatology found that all women with a low bone mineral density in the forearm (less than 0.34 g/cm2) developed osteoporosis, whereas only 10% of women with a high bone mineral density in the forearm (above 0.419 g/cm2) had osteoporosis.

This study found that higher levels of saturated fat in both children and adolescents was associated with a higher bone mineral density.

The results of this study suggest that a diet high in saturated fat may help to lower the risk of osteoporosis and the author of the study Dr Magnar Gunnes concludes that dietary recommendations, (to lower saturated fat consumption), especially when aimed at young people, may have to be reconsidered.