Eat your 5+ a day for bone health

Osteoporosis, which increases risk of bone fracture and disability, is a public health concern in most Western countries.

Adequate dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D status have been recognised as important factors in maintaining bone health for many years.

There is now growing evidence that higher intakes of vegetables and fruit also have a positive effect on bone health. Recent research in the UK studied three age groups – 16-18 year olds, 23-37 year olds, and 60-83 years old – to assess the relationship between their fruit and vegetable consumption and measures of bone health.

Higher intakes of vegetables and fruit appeared to have a positive effect on the bone mineral status of both adolescents and older women.

How the association works is not known; the researchers stated that vitamin C, other fruit-specific antioxidants, and lifestyle factors associated with higher intakes may play a role.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2006, 83:1420-8