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Association between vegetarian diets and bone health (823.2)
Author(s) -
Knurick Jessica,
Johnston Carol,
Wherry Sarah
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.823.2
Subject(s) - medicine , urine , urinary system , bone mineral , calcium , urinary calcium , physiology , osteoporosis
Low bone mineral density (BMD) is associated with an increased risk of osteoporotic fracture, and diet is considered an important modifiable risk factor linked to bone health. While vegetarian diets appear to exhibit health advantages, there is conflicting evidence regarding the effect of these diets on long‐term bone health. Purpose: To compare dietary composition, protein status, and bone health in long‐term omnivores (OMN) and vegetarians (VEG). Methods: Dietary intake and 24‐hour urine was examined in healthy OMN (n=23) and VEG (n=46), aged 19‐50 years (30.3 ± 8.0 y). Dietary status ranged from one‐year to lifetime adherence. Each subject completed a 24‐hour recall, administered by a trained nutritionist, to assess dietary intake and completed a 24‐hour urine collection. Urinary nitrogen and calcium were measured in 24‐hour urine with colorimetric enzymatic assays. After testing for normality, univariate analyses of total body BMD z‐scores were controlled for body weight. Independent samples T‐tests were used on all remaining variables. Results: BMD z‐score was significantly lower in the VEG group (p=0.028), which was associated with protein status (p=0.49). VEG diets also exhibited lower urinary nitrogen (p<0.001) and lower urinary calcium (p=0.008) levels than OMN diets. Conclusion: VEG diets were associated with decreased protein intake, urinary nitrogen, and urinary calcium. These factors may contribute to the low bone mineral densities observed in the VEG group. These data suggest that VEG diets, marked by inferior protein and calcium statuses, may pose a risk to bone health.