Bone health

Consumption of dairy products reduces risk of fracture in older adults by 40%

old woman - yogurt

This study shows that older adults with a higher intake of milk and dairy products have a reduced risk of femoral neck bone fracture compared to those with a lower intake.

The study also confirms that better bone density is associated with a lower risk of fracture. This prospective study, which began in 1988, followed 764 men and women with a mean age of 77 over an average period of 12 years in Framingham (Massachusetts, USA).

The participants completed a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire, enabling the researchers to evaluate their milk intake. The mineral density of their femoral neck bone was also measured. During the follow-up period, 97 femoral neck bone fractures were recorded. After adjustments for various confounding factors, people with medium (>1 and Intake of yogurt and milk also lowered the risk of fracture in the same proportions as milk on its own. These results also demonstrate that there is a weak but significant link between better bone density and lower risk of fracture.

Source: Sahni S., Mangano K. M., Tucker K. L. et al. (2014) Protective Association of Milk Intake on the Risk of Hip Fracture: Results from the Framingham Original Cohort, Journal of Bone and Mineral Research; DOI 10.1002/jbmr.2219

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