Vegetarian Diet Info
Osteoporosis: Vegetarian Health & Diet
Information on Osteoporosis, Brittle Bones, Vegetarians & Vegans

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Osteoporosis, Vegetarian Diet and Health

Osteoporosis is a major cause of bone fractures in post-menopausal women and is a considerable public health problem. There are a number of risk factors for osteoporosis, including diet. Some studies have suggested that vegetarians may be at lower risk of osteoporosis than non-vegetarians, although more evidence is required.

• One research study found that elderly women with a high dietary ratio of animal to vegetable protein intake had more rapid femoral neck bone loss and a greater risk of hip fracture than those with a low ratio.
• Another study found vegetarian women aged between 50 and 89 years lost 18 per cent of bone mass while a control group of non-vegetarian women had a 35 per cent bone loss and suggested a vegetarian diet may be beneficial in protecting against postmenopausal osteoporosis.
• Hip fractures associated with osteoporosis has been shown to be higher in countries consuming a diet high in animal protein.
• Dietary protein has been shown to increase the loss of calcium from bones and urinary calcium excretion. Calcium loss is greater on a diet high in animal protein.
• Yet some studies have found no difference in bone density and bone mineral content between vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

Sources include:

Abelow, B J et al. (1992) Cross-cultural association between dietary animal protein and hip-fracture. Calcified Tissue International v.50 p.14-18.

Marsh, A G et al. (1988) Vegetarian lifestyle and bone mineral density. Am Jnl Clinical Nutrition v.48 (3) p.837-41.

Sellmeyer, D E et al. (2001) A high ratio of dietary animal to vegetable protein increases the rate of bone loss and the risk of fracture in postmenopausal women. Am J Clin Nutr 2001; 73:118-22.

Vegetarian Diet