A newly published study has found that vegans and vegetarians are more at risk of bone fractures than those who eat meat. The risk could also be higher for pescatarians. The researchers found that vegans with lowerCalcium and protein intakeOn average, they had a 43% higher risk of bone fractures.
How high is the risk for vegans and vegetarians?
The longitudinal study that achieved this finding appears in the journal BMC Medicine. According to the scientists, among study participants who followed a vegan diet, there were almost 20 additional cases of fractures per 1,000 people over a 10-year period. Vegans and vegetarians in particular were at higher risk of hip and leg fractures, as well as other major site fractures such as the collarbone, ribs and vertebrae. This is the first comprehensive study of the risks of total and site-specific fractures in people of different dietary groups. The biggest differences were in hip fractures. The risk of such a bone fracture was 2.3 times higher for vegans than for people who ate meat. People who don't eat meat but eat fish also had a high risk of hip fractures, according to the study.
However, the team found that taking into account body mass index, dietary calcium and dietary protein partially reduced the risk of fractures in these groups. Researchers from the universities of Oxford and Bristol examined participants' outcomes by monitoring their hospital records and death certificates up to 2016. So the team tracked the participants for an average of more than 17 years. A total of 3941 fractures occurred during the course of the study. These included 566 arm, 889 wrist, 945 hip, 366 leg and 520 ankle fractures, as well as 467 fractures at other main locations. The researchers found that they affected the collarbone, ribs or even the spine. The study authors observed no significant differences in risks between diet groups for arm, wrist or ankle fractures when they took body mass index into account.
Nutrition and bone health
A balanced and predominantly plant-based diet can lead to improved nutrient content. This diet is also associated with a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes. However, individuals should consider the benefits and risksvegan diet regarding bone healthtake into account. In addition, it is important to ensure that they have sufficient calcium and protein levels. A healthy body mass index must also be maintained - i.e. neither under nor overweight. The authors of the new study cautioned that they could not pinpoint the causes of the fractures. They also didn't know whether the participants had used calcium supplements. Since three quarters of the participantsthis studywere women, the researchers also call for a study with a larger proportion of men to examine differences in risk by gender.
