Dairy Products and Osteoporosis

Dairy products and osteoporosis.. While we tell children and adolescents that they need to drink enough milk for stronger bones when they get older, a new Harvard University study claims otherwise.

So far, we assumed that we had to follow a diet rich in calcium and dairy- three dairy products a day, especially during adolescence to avoid fractures and osteoporosis and fractures as seniors.

But the results of a study done by Harvard Medical School says the exact opposite for dairy products and osteoporosis and fractures. The researchers studied the incidence of hip fractures among 96,000 people- 35,000 men and 61,000 women over a period of twenty-two years to see if their milk intake during adolescence had reduced their risk of fractures at an older age.

And no positive association between high milk consumption and the reduction of fractures has been found in women. And for men, it was even the opposite! Each additional glass of milk per day consumed in adolescence increased the risk of hip fracture by 9%!

 

These results left the scientists curious as to why this may be the case. And one good logical explanation is that milk would promote skeletal growth, especially among men. Therefore, their larger size would be a contributing factor for fractures and osteoporosis.

The fact is that, the benefits of a high milk consumption have been questioned for both men and women. Other studies have already cast doubt on the benefits of milk to reduce osteoporosis.

Many nutrition researchers and doctors began to express doubts about the major principle of three dairy products per day. They even suggest that this recommendation could be influenced by lobbyists of the dairy industry.

Without encouraging people to eliminate dairy from their diets, they recommend eating a variety of foods with different nutritional benefits, explaining that the best sources of calcium are also found in sardines, kale and white beans.

They emphasize that osteoporosis rate is not higher in countries where people do not consume dairy products. But they also explain that for children with a poor diet, the consumption of three dairy products could be better than nothing.

While the debate over the amount and type of dairy products consumed daily is far from over, there are some simple universal osteoporosis prevention tactics that you can practice to prevent osteoporosis in later life: A healthy and balanced diet that includes plenty fruit and vegetables and regular physical activity at any age.

Physical activity (no matter what type is chosen) in adolescence and later in adulthood leads to bone mineral density 10-20% higher than in sedentary adolescents.

In postmenopausal women, just like in older adults, daily exercise slows down the loss of bone mass, maintain balanced muscles and reduce the risk of falls and fractures.

Finally, vitamin D deficiency due to lack of sun exposure is often implicated, even more than calcium. If you do not have the chance to catch some sun rays, ask your doctor if any vitamin intake is necessary.

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