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Fortify Bones
April 2, 1999. Two different bone conditions may afflict men
who have prostate cancer -- osteoporosis (or bone loss) caused or made
worse by hormonal blockade; and spread of cancer to the bones. Drugs
may be needed to combat osteoporosis, but diet may play a part in protecting
against it.
Americans are taught from childhood up about
the importance of milk and other calcium-containing foods for bone health.
But a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
shows that fruits and vegetables are important in the prevention of
osteoporosis.
The authors evaluated participants from
the Framington Heart Study and found that lifelong dietary intakes of
potassium, magnesium and fruit and vegetables were determinants of bone
mineral density in elderly men and women.
Katherine L. Tucker, PhD, Associate Professor
of Nutrition at Tufts University and lead investigator of the study
says, "This suggests that a good quality diet in adulthood is important
to bone health beyond the better known contributions of calcium and
vitamin D, and provides yet another reason to emphasize the intake of
fruits and vegetables."
Many people know that eating antacids like Rolaids or Tums helps a little bit to protect against osteoporosis. But why
so? And how does this link with fruit and vegetables?
Douglas Kiel, who teaches at Harvard Medical
School and researches the health of people who attend Hebrew Rehabilitation
Center for Aged, explains. "Normal digestion produces increased
acidity," he points out. "In this environment, bone acts as
a buffer base. Minerals are drawn out of the bone to neutralize the
acid, thereby reducing the strength of the bone. Fruits and vegetables
help to prevent this loss of bone mineral density because they create
a more alkaline environment in the bodyÂthey neutralize the acid without
depending on the buffering effects of the bone minerals. It is also
possible that potassium and magnesium have direct effects on bone cells."
People who eat a lot of highly processed
foods often lack adequate potassium and magnesium. Good sources of potassium
include fruits and vegetables such as bananas, oranges, tomatoes, potatoes,
broccoli and melon. Good sources of magnesium include a variety of whole
foods including fruits and vegetables, milk, fish and whole grains.
Osteoporosis affects roughly 25 million
Americans, often leading to bone fractures. Men who are at risk of bone
loss caused by drug treatments for prostate cancer need to be especially
aware that bone density is constantly affected by diet and exercise.
Although the body builds and stores bone more efficiently during the
younger years, it is never too late to start protecting your bones.
Although fruits and vegetables may not afford sufficient protection,
eat plenty of them while checking with your doctors as to whether you
need protective medication as well.
The American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition is published by The
American Society of Clinical Nutrition
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Public Pushes for Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods ABC News
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[Grocery Manufacturers of America website]
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