Yogurt consumption linked with increased bone mineral density

Greater yogurt consumption was linked with increased bone mineral density, according to a recent analysis of 4,310 adults in Ireland.

Study researcher Eamon Laird, PhD, from the Centre for Medical Gerontology in Trinity, Ireland, said in a press release, “The data suggest that improving yogurt intakes could be a strategy for maintaining bone health, but it needs verification through future research as it is observational.”

Eamon Laird

Laird and colleagues assessed yogurt consumption, bone mineral density (BMD) and physical activity in adults. Yogurt consumption was separated into three groups: non-consumers; low consumers; and high consumers.

Investigators found women with the highest yogurt intakes had total hip and femoral neck BMD outcomes that were 3.1% to 3.9% higher than those with the lowest intakes, according to the release. Men with the highest yogurt consumption had a biomarker bone breakdown that was 9.5% lower than their peers who had the lowest yogurt intake. This was not found in women.

“Significantly fewer men than women were high yogurt consumers, and it is possible that this marker was detecting subtle bone turnover chances in men only as not enough yogurt was being consumed to affect BMD but enough to affect bone turnover, though this hypothesis needs to be tested,” the researchers wrote.

In addition, daily yogurt intake was linked with a reduced risk for osteoporosis in men (ratio = 0.48) and women (ratio = 0.61), and a reduced risk for osteopenia in women (ratio = 0.69). For women, vitamin D supplementation was linked with a reduced risk for osteopenia (ratio = 0.51) and osteoporosis (ratio = 0.41). For men, vitamin D supplementation was linked with a reduced risk for just osteoporosis (ratio = 0.4).

“The results demonstrate a significant association of bone health and frailty with a relatively simple and cheap food product,” Miriam Casey, MD, from St. James Hospital in Dublin, said in the release. “What is now needed is verification of these observations from randomized controlled trials, as we still do not understand the exact mechanisms which could be due to the benefits of microbiota or the macro- and micro-nutrient composition of the yogurt.” – by Will A. Offit

Reference:

www.tcd.ie

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.

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Source:

Laird E, et al. Osteoporos Int. 2017;doi:10.1007/s00198-1016-4049-5.