Does a vegan diet lead to poorer bones?

Consume a vegan diet is known to have many health benefits ranging from weight loss to cholesterol control, but did you know that following a vegan diet also comes with bad effects?

According to a new study, people on a vegan diet had lower ultrasound readings, indicating poor bone health. In the study of the German Federal Institute for Risk assessment (BfR), the bone health of 36 vegans, as well as 36 people on a mixed diet, was determined by an ultrasound measurement of the heel bone.

Result: On average, people on a vegan diet had lower ultrasound values ​​than the other group. This indicates poorer bone health.

In the study, the scientists also determined biomarkers in the blood and urine. This aims to identify nutrients that may be linked to diet and bone health. Out of 28 parameters of nutritional status and bone metabolism, it was possible to identify twelve biomarkers most strongly associated with bone health – for example, the amino acid lysine and vitamins A and B6.

The results show that in most cases the combination of these biomarkers was present at lower concentrations in vegans. This could be a possible explanation for poor bone health. “A vegan diet is often considered to be healthy.

However, our scientific findings indicate that a vegan diet affects bone health, ”said BfR President Professor Dr Andreas Hensel.

Nutrition plays an important role in bone health. This has been studied more closely in the cross section of the BfRRisks and the benefits of a study on a vegan diet. 72 men and women participated in the study.

The bone health of all participants was assessed at the heel bone level using ultrasound measurements.

Information on age, smoking, education, body mass index, physical activity and alcohol consumption was also collected. Using a statistical model, the BfR was able to identify a model of twelve biomarkers that play an important role in bone health from 28 nutritional and bone parameters obtained from blood or urine.