Omega-3 Fat intake linked to bone health in young men
Many of us have heard that increasing intake of omega-3 fats helps with health; decreases inflammation, decreases risk of heart disease, can help with arthritis, etc, but did you also know it can help your bones?
The results of looking at this question were published in the March 2007 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. There have been previous studies looking at the effects of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which concluded that those who ate a higher ratio of omega-3 fats had more dense bones, but this appears to be the first to directly look at the question, does an increase in omega-3 fat intake improve bone health?
This specific study investigated 78 healthy men who were 16 years old at the beginning of the study. Bone mineral density was measured for the total body, the hip and the spine at the beginning of the study and then again at 22 years old and 24 years old. Fatty acid concentrations were also measured for comparisons.
They found that there was a positive correlation between concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and changes in the bone mineral density. The conclusion was that omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA, are positively associated with increased bone mineral density in young men.
What does this all mean? There is plenty of research that supports increasing our intake of omega-3 fats. Here is another one. But how can you do that? First of all, this is why health professionals are encouraging people to eat more fish, especially the fatty fish, which are fish that live in colder climates, such as salmon. Other sources of omega-3 fats include flaxseeds and nuts, particularly walnuts.
I often recommend to my clients to decrease the fat intake from animals, increase fish intake to 3 servings per week, and, in some cases, consider a supplement. Look at your diet, and see where you can start making changes to the type of fats you eat.
To read more about omega-3 fats and fish, click here: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4632
For an NIH report on omega-3 fatty acids and health, click here:
http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/FactSheets/Omega3FattyAcidsandHealth.asp
To read the abstract for this study, click here: http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/85/3/803
The results of looking at this question were published in the March 2007 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. There have been previous studies looking at the effects of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which concluded that those who ate a higher ratio of omega-3 fats had more dense bones, but this appears to be the first to directly look at the question, does an increase in omega-3 fat intake improve bone health?
This specific study investigated 78 healthy men who were 16 years old at the beginning of the study. Bone mineral density was measured for the total body, the hip and the spine at the beginning of the study and then again at 22 years old and 24 years old. Fatty acid concentrations were also measured for comparisons.
They found that there was a positive correlation between concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and changes in the bone mineral density. The conclusion was that omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA, are positively associated with increased bone mineral density in young men.
What does this all mean? There is plenty of research that supports increasing our intake of omega-3 fats. Here is another one. But how can you do that? First of all, this is why health professionals are encouraging people to eat more fish, especially the fatty fish, which are fish that live in colder climates, such as salmon. Other sources of omega-3 fats include flaxseeds and nuts, particularly walnuts.
I often recommend to my clients to decrease the fat intake from animals, increase fish intake to 3 servings per week, and, in some cases, consider a supplement. Look at your diet, and see where you can start making changes to the type of fats you eat.
To read more about omega-3 fats and fish, click here: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4632
For an NIH report on omega-3 fatty acids and health, click here:
http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/FactSheets/Omega3FattyAcidsandHealth.asp
To read the abstract for this study, click here: http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/85/3/803
posted by Margie Geiser, MBA, RD, NSCA-CPT at
6:33 AM
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