Men's Osteoporosis Support Group

Veganism and BMD; depression and osteoporosis

Osteoporos Int. 2009 Apr 7. [Epub ahead of print]. Veganism, bone mineral density, and body composition: a study in Buddhist nuns. Ho-Pham LT and others. PMID: 19350341. This cross-sectional study involved 155 vegan Mahayana Buddhist nuns who were compared to 105 omnivores using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to determine bone mineral density (BMD) and dietary analysis to compare intake of calcium and protein. There was no significant difference in BMD at any of the measured sites and no significant difference in osteoporosis between groups. The median intake of calcium was lower in the vegans, but there was no significant correlation between dietary calcium and BMD. The authors concluded: "These results suggest that, although vegans have much lower intakes of dietary calcium and protein than omnivores, veganism does not have adverse effect on bone mineral density and does not alter body composition."

Editor's comments. Both groups studied had very low intakes of calcium by western standards, see the National Osteoporosis Foundation calcium recommendations. The vegans' median intake was only 330 mg vs. 682 for the omnivores. For vegans this was one fourth the suggested daily calcium requirement, and yet their osteoporosis rate was only 17%, which is not excessive for women whose average age is 62. See this U.K. website which suggests 21.6% for ages 60-69 is normal. There is evidence that diets high in protein create a mild metabolic acidosis which the body tries to overcome by buffering the acid condition with calcium bicarbonate from bones which could lead to osteoporosis. See this Newsletter for a discussion of potential renal acid load (PRAL). And here's a recent Update for more on this topic. This study seems to corroborate the idea that diets that produce mild metabolic alkalosis, as vegan/vegetarian diets do, may be somewhat protective from osteoporosis. And they don't require a high intake of calcium to support bone health.

Med J Aust. 2009 Apr 6;190(7):S54-60. Depression, anxiety and their relationship with chronic diseases: a review of the epidemiology, risk and treatment evidence. Clarke DM, Currie KC. PMID: 19351294. The free full text of this study is available here. Last weeks' Update included a study that found an association between depression and osteoporosis. By coincidence this extensive review study also just came out, and since it has the free full text of the article available, I want to post it here for those who are interested. It is a meta-analysis--a review of other review articles--that includes a total of 159 articles. And it covers other areas related to depression--not just osteoporosis--including heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, asthma, cancer and arthritis. So individuals diagnosed with depression need to be aware of the other risks associated with that condition, and take necessary steps to reduce or eliminate those added risks, including osteoporosis.

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