Veganism has no adverse effect on bone health

Sunday April 19 2009 (foodconsumer.org) -- Many readers might still think animal-based foods or diets are better than plant-based diets when it comes to bone health. But a new study suggests both diets do not make any difference.

The study led by LT Ho-Pham from Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and colleagues showed that veganism did not have any adverse effect on bone mineral density and did not alter body composition, although vegans had lower dietary calcium and protein intakes than omnivores.

The study involved 105 Mahayana Buddhist nuns and 105 omnivorous women at an average age of 62, ranging from 50 to 85, who were randomly picked from monasteries in Ho Chi Minh City for the study. The nuns did not eat meat and seafood.

The researchers measured bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), and whole body (WB) and surveyed participants for their intakes of calcium and protein. They also measured participants' lean mass, fat mass, and percent fat mass.

The median intake of dietary calcium was found to be much lower in vegans than omnivores, but there were no significant differences in any of the measurements. Calcium intake was not associated with bone mass density.


The researchers concluded, "These results suggest that, although vegans have much lower intakes of dietary calcium and protein than omnivores, veganism does not have adverse effect on bone mineral density and does not alter body composition."

The study titled "Veganism, bone mineral density, and body composition: a study in Buddhist nuns" was published in the April 7, 2009 issue of Osteoporosis International.

(Written by David Liu and edited by Heather Kelley)