Postmenopausal women into Mediterranean diet have lower rates of hip fracture

Women past their menopause would benefit from a Mediterranean diet which provides them stronger bones. Females who eat more vegetables, fruits, beans, peas, nuts, fish, olive oil and unrefined grain have lower rates of hip fracture, according to a new study.

Published online by JAMA Internal Medicine, the research analysed data from 40 clinical centres throughout the US that were part of the Women’s Health Initiative study. In its analysis of the 90,000 plus female study participants with an average age of 64, the study compared their dietary patterns to four common healthy diets, including the Mediterranean diet.

The women were tracked after 16 years, and researchers found 2,121 cases of hip fractures and 28,718 total fractures. The ones who stuck to the Mediterranean diet were 0.29 percent less likely to suffer from hip fractures, reports CNN.

Explaining the findings, Dr Bernard Haring from the University of Wurzburg in Germany and lead author of the study, says, “Our results provide assurance that widely recommended eating patterns do not increase the risk of fractures.” He adds that the average woman must follow a healthy lifestyle, including physical activity and a healthy dietary pattern.

Among the burdens that aging societies have to deal with are osteoporosis-related fractures which carry a high cost for its health care systems, notes Live Science. Dr Walter Willett, of Harvard School of Public Health, recommends the integration of the Mediterranean diet into medical practice, schools, hospitals and other institutions to improve the well-being of citizens. He laments that “the U.S. health system almost entirely ignores nutrition in favor of pharmacology and its hugely expensive and ineffective compared with the systems in other countries.”

Besides helping strengthen bones, the Mediterranean diet is also known for preventing cardiovascular ailments and keeping a healthy weight.