Udo Erasmus, pioneer of essential fatty acids, EFA's, omega-3, omega fats, Udo's Choice, Udo's Oil, cold-pressed flax-seed oil, trans-fats, Trans Fatty acids

 
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OSTEOPOROSIS, EFAs, & other NUTRIENTS
 
by Udo Erasmus, Ph.D

 

Everybody knows that calcium and phosphorus are important for bones.

It’s obvious, because these two elements make up about 80-90% of bone.9 The need for protein in normal bone is also well known.75-78 But other minerals, including magnesium, zinc, boron, iron, fluoride, and copper are also necessary for normal bone, as are vitamins A, C, D, and K.9

The importance of essential fatty acids (EFAs) in the mineralization of bone and in the prevention of bone mineral loss that leads to osteoporosis is beginning to get more attention.

It is becoming more and more well known that EFAs play important general roles in all cell membranes, and in all tissues, glands, and organs.  A comprehensive basic understanding of the involvement of fats in health and disease, and of the damage done to EFAs by processing is found in the book Fats That Heal Fats That Kill by Udo Erasmus20. The topic is too large to cover here.

Certain kinds of fats are necessary for every cell, tissue, gland, and organ in the body. Yet we live in a time where fats are maligned and avoided. Because this misunderstanding of the importance of the right kinds of fat in the diet, we call a diet emphasizing the fats essential to health the Right Fat Diet®.

 
Research on EFAs and Bone

 

Research going back to 1985 shows that children with cystic fibrosis are underweight, and have delayed bone development as well as later puberty.

These effects are thought to be due to malabsorption of nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and EFAs. 1

Research in 1990 on dietary recommendations to prevent coronary heart disease indicates that excessive protein intake can increase renal disease and osteoporosis. 2

A review article in 1997 points out that EFA-deficient animals develop severe osteoporosis, coupled with increased renal and arterial calcification. This picture is similar to that seen in the elderly, where loss of bone calcium is associated with calcification of soft tissues, especially arteries and kidneys. 3

 

The same review article points out that EFAs have been shown to increase calcium absorption from the gut. They do so in part by enhancing the effects of vitamin D. The article goes on to say that EFAs reduce urinary calcium excretion, increase calcium deposition in bone, improve bone strength, and enhance the synthesis of bone collagen. These benefits of EFAs are associated with one other benefit, namely, that there is reduced soft tissue calcification when EFAs are adequately present.

 

 

In 1998, research found that women (mean age: 79.5 years) with low calcium intake benefited more from calcium supplementation if the EFA derivatives GLA and EPA were given at the same time than they did when EFA derivatives were not given. 4

In 1999, a study carried out on rats showed that the EFA derivatives GLA and EPA alone and estrogen alone increased bone density in ovariectomized animals. EFAs enhanced the effects of estrogen when they were used together. 5

A review of essential fatty acids and osteoporosis published in 2000 summarizes the research. 6

A research study in 2000 found that patients with higher levels of the omega-6 EFA in their body showed more periodontal disease than controls. The same study found that those with higher levels of omega-3 EFA in their body showed less periodontal disease than controls. 7

This research is of great interest. The intake of omega-6 fatty acids has doubled in Europe, America, and other affluent populations over the past 100 years, due to increased use of omega-6 rich oils such as safflower (Diestel) and corn (Mais) oils in food preparation.21-23 On the other hand, omega-3 intake has been reduced to less than 20% of what people got 150 years ago.21-23 This is mainly due to the fact that omega-3 fatty acids are present in fewer seeds, nuts, and animals, and that omega-3 fatty acids are five times more sensitive to destruction than are equivalent omega-6 fatty acids. 8

 

 

Another review on nutrition and bone health published in 2000 reviews the requirements for normal bone metabolism, and suggests that caffeine, and alcohol may negatively affect bone health, and that phytoestrogens may positively impact bone health.9

Another review points out that high blood pressure is associated with increased osteoporosis, kidney stones, and calcium excretion.10 EFAs, especially omega-3, can lower high blood pressure quite effectively. 24-28

A study published in 2001 says: “Polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially of the omega-3 series, have a beneficial effect in treatment of osteoporosis in the elderly. The mechanism by which they help is hypothesized to involve modulation by omega-3 of calcium and sodium/potassium ATPase. 11

A study in 2001 suggests that bone mineral mass and bone mineral density is governed 60-70% by hereditary factors, and suggests that optimization of nutrition and lifestyle remains an attractive strategy for reducing fracture risk. 12

Also in 2001, a review suggests that hormonal factors, nutrition, and mechanical usage determine the magnitude of bone mineral loss. 13

One other study in 2001 suggests that unbalanced diets to lower cholesterol levels are a risk factor for postmenopausal osteoporosis and forearm fractures. 14

 

 
Protein and Osteoporosis

It has been known for some time that a high protein diet leads to mineral loss through the urine, and that this is a factor in the development of osteoporosis. 29-32 It is one of the reasons why Inuit (Eskimos) have a high rate of osteoporosis on their high fat, high protein diet. 33

Weight-Bearing Exercise and Osteoporosis

It has also been shown that weight-bearing exercise will increase bone mass and density even in people over 80 years old, negating the widespread belief that after age 25, the bone remodeling process moves into a slight negative balance, resulting in gradual loss of structural continuity and strength.13

The finding dramatically shows the importance of weight-bearing activity to bone integrity that astronauts in zero gravity lose up to 15% of their bone minerals during extended space journeys. When they return to earth, weight-bearing exercise is used to rebuild the bones. 34-45
Research on Phytoestrogens and Bone

 

 


Several studies have shown that phytoestrogen-rich foods are associated with decreased bone loss. 5,15-19 Most of these studies have used soybean products.

Flax is a second source of phytoestrogens. Its phytoestrogens are as good or better than those found in soybeans. The phytoestrogens in flax, called lignans, have additional benefits in that they also have anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer benefits, as well as anti-diabetic, anti-cholesterol, anti-inflammatory, and anti-lupus properties. 46-74

Note: A rich source of lignans is Wholesome Fast Food Blend. Beyond Greens is a ‘green’ product rich in lignans.

 
References:

 

 

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