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Update on dairy and bone health

Source:Ringier Release Date:2013-03-06 375
Food & Beverage
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Milk, yoghurt or cream? When it comes to health benefits, some dairy are better than others

DAIRY consumption, specifically milk and yoghurt, is associated with higher bone mineral density (BMD) in the hip, but not the spine. Cream, on the other hand, may be associated with lower BMD overall. These were the findings of researchers from the Institute for Aging Research (IFAR) at Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School (HMS). They imply that not all dairy products are equally beneficial in promoting bone strength.

“Dairy foods provide several important nutrients that are beneficial for bone health,” says lead author Shivani Sahni, Ph.D., Musculoskeletal Research Team, IFAR. “However, cream and its products such as ice cream have lower levels of these nutrients and have higher levels of fat and sugar. In this study, 2.5 to 3 servings of milk and yoghurt intake per day were associated with better bone density. However, more research is needed to examine the role of cheese intake (some of which can be high in fat and sodium), and whether individual dairy foods have a significant impact in reducing fractures.”

IFAR researchers based their findings on data collected from a food frequency questionnaire completed by 3,212 participants from the Framingham Offspring study. They then compared participants’ dairy intake with BMD measurement, which revealed the benefits of milk and yogurt versus cream in largely middle-aged men and women. According to the study, nutrient composition varies amongst dairy foods. Choosing low-fat milk or yoghurt over cream can increase intake of protein, calcium and vitamin D whilst limiting intake of saturated fats.

Health-economic model for dietary calcium intake

Choosing low-fat milk or yoghurt over cream can increase intake of protein, calcium and vitamin D whilst limiting intake of saturated fats | Photo AndreyEzhov?I Dreamstime.com

Dairy is still the major source of calcium, especially in Western countries.  A European research shows the health economics of increased dairy foods and related reduction in risk of osteoporotic fractures in the population aged over 50.Based on a new analytical model that links nutrition and fracture risk, and health economics, the study used data from the Netherlands, France and Sweden, countries which have varying levels of dairy products intake in the population.

Study co-author René Rizzoli, professor of medicine and head of the Division of Bone Disease at
the University Hospitals of Geneva, said, “Despite the fact that the effects of foods on health are recognised, there are no accepted and proven methodologies to assess the health-economic impacts of foods on the general population. Although this model may be further refined, it does provide a straightforward and easy-to-use method to assess the health-economic impact of food products on health, well-being and costs.”

Calcium is contained in different types of foods (including in certain fish and greens), however around 60 to 70% of daily calcium intake in Western countries is derived from dairy products. In addition to calcium, dairy products also provide a large variety of essential nutrients such as minerals, vitamins and proteins that, along with vitamin D, are also beneficial to bone health.

The researchers calculated the number of disability-adjusted life years (DALYS) lost due to hip fractures associated with low nutritional calcium intake and the number of hip fractures that could potentially be prevented each year with intake of additional dairy products. The benefits were highest in France with 2023 prevented hip fractures, followed by Sweden (455) and the Netherlands (132). This represents a substantial health cost savings of approximately 129 million,odziez

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