Olive Oil Boosts Bone Health

Olive Oil Boosts Bone Health

It's not just good for your heart - a recent study shows an increased intake of olive oil is associated with strengthening of bone formation markers.

A study in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM) shows consumption of a Mediterranean diet enriched with olive oil for two years is associated with increased serum osteocalcin concentrations, suggesting a protective effect on bone.

Oil – not low-fat or nuts

Studies show that the incidence of osteoporosis is lower in the Mediterranean basin. The traditional Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, with a high intake of olives and olive oil could be a factor underlying this difference – but how? According to study leader José Manuel Fernández-Real, MD, PhD: “This is the first randomised study which demonstrates that olive oil preserves bone in humans.”

For this study, 127 male test subjects aged 55-80 were randomly assigned to three intervention groups: Mediterranean diet with mixed nuts, Mediterranean diet with virgin olive oil, and a low-fat diet. Measurements of blood levels of osteocalcin, glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were performed at the beginning and after two year follow-up. Researchers found that only the Mediterranean diet with olive oil was associated with a significant increase in the concentrations of total osteocalcin and other bone formation markers. There were also no significant changes in serum calcium in subjects taking olive oil whereas serum calcium actually decreased significantly in the other two groups.

Source :  Nature and Health