Do Omega-3 Fats Help Prevent Osteoporosis?
Adding to a growing body of evidence that links Omega-3 fatty acid intake with healthy bone growth, a study just out in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN) found that healthy teenage boys with higher serum levels of Omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA (docosahexanoic acid), had significantly greater bone mineral density accrual between the ages of 16 and 22.
This result is important, as bone growth during the teenage years is key to building a high peak bone mass that may reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis later in life.
In a related earlier study published in the AJCN, researchers found that among older adults age 45 to 90, a higher ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acid intake was associated with a significantly lower bone mass density at the hip.
Omega-3 fats EPA and DHA are found primarily in fish oil, while the main sources for Omega-6 fats in the diet are vegetable oils (corn, soybean, sunflower, safflower). Most people eat far too much Omega-6 fats relative to Omega-3 fats. The estimated ratio in Western diets is 15:1, whereas a ratio between 1:1 to 4:1 is believed to be optimal.
How Fat Intake Affects Bone Growth
The exact mechanism for how higher levels of Omega-3 fats and/or a lower Omega-6/Omega-3 fat intake ratio may assist bone growth is not yet entirely understood. However, an accompanying editorial to this month’s study in the AJCN, makes some interesting observations:
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Increased adiposity (fat cell formation) is observed in bone marrow of aging populations with osteoporosis.
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Osteoblasts (bone-building cells) are derived from stem cells that can turn into osteoblasts or adipocytes (fat cells).
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Peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) is a protein that regulates lipoegensis (fat cell formation), fatty acid oxidation, and glucose uptake. PPAR-gamma is found in adipose tissue and bone marrow.
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Studies have shown that suppression of PPAR-gamma promotes bone growth, while PPAR-gamma promoters slow bone growth.
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Omega-6 fats activate PPAR-gamma. Conversely, Omega-3 fats do not.
Thus, decreasing the dietary ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fats may lower PPAR-gamma activity, reduce bone marrow adiposity, and promote osteoblast (bone-building) activity. There needs to be more research done in this area to better understand exactly what is occurring.
Recommendations
In the meantime, ensuring adequate Omega-3 fat intake and reducing the Omega-6/Omega-3 fat intake ratio both make sense to include as part of a program to promote healthy bones.
Those same steps are also important in helping to avoid and treat many other conditions, including:
May 10th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
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