Fruit and vegetables for healthy bones.

Vegetarian Journal readers know that there's much more to bone health than just calcium. An intriguing new study suggests that fruit and vegetable intakes, especially during adolescence, may be important for healthy bones. Researchers examined boys and girls aged 16 to 18 years and living in the United Kingdom. They also studied young women (aged 23 to 37 years) and older adults (aged 60 to 83 years). They asked subjects about their intake of fruits and vegetables and evaluated their bones. In adolescents, stronger and larger bones were found in those eating the largest amounts of fruits and vegetables. The amount of fruit eaten seemed to be more important for bone health than the amount of vegetables consumed. Similar results were seen in older women. There was little effect of fruit or vegetable consumption on bone health in young women or older men. Calcium intake did not determine bone health in any of the groups studied. The effects of fruits and vegetables on bone health may be due to the alkaline nature of these foods or to their vitamin C, beta-carotene, or vitamin K content. In the United States, costs associated with osteoporosis are close to 18 billion dollars each year. Simple measures like encouraging people, especially teens, to eat more fruits and vegetables may be important in reducing both the financial and human cost of osteoporosis.

By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, FADA 

Prynne CJ, Mishra GD, O'Connell MA, et al. 2006. Fruit and vegetable intakes and bone mineral status: a cross-sectional study in 5 age and sex cohorts. Am J Clin Nutr 83:1420-28.

Lanham-New SA. 2006. Fruit and vegetables: the unexpected natural answer to the question of osteoporosis prevention? Am J Clin Nutr 83:1254-55.