Vegetarian Women Are More Susceptible To Hip Fractures
Introduction
A study of more
than 26,000 middle-aged British women found that vegetarians had a 33% higher
risk of hip fracture than regular meat eaters.
Research from the
University of Leeds, published today (Thursday, August 11) in the journal BMC
Medicine, compared the risk of hip fracture among occasional meat eaters,
pescatarians (individuals who eat fish but no meat), and vegetarians to that of
frequent meat eaters.
Over about 20
years, 822 occurrences of hip fracture were recorded among 26,318 women,
representing little over 3% of the sample group. Vegetarians were the only
dietary category with an increased risk of hip fracture after adjusting for
characteristics such as smoking and age.
This is one of the
very few studies to assess the risk of hip fracture between vegetarians and
meat eaters using hospital records to confirm the incidence of hip fracture.
The experts
emphasize the need for further investigation into why vegetarians have a higher
risk of hip fracture.
Vegetarian diets might be healthy or unhealthy.
James Webster, a doctorate student in the School of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Leeds and the study's primary author, stated, "Our study indicates possible concerns regarding the risk of hip fracture in vegetarian women. However, it does not advise against vegetarian diets. As with any diet, one must comprehend personal conditions and the nutrients necessary for a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
Similar to diets
that incorporate animal products, vegetarian diets can vary greatly from person
to person and can be healthy or ill.
"However, it
is troubling that vegetarian diets typically contain lesser amounts of
nutrients linked to bone and muscle health. Protein, calcium, and other
minerals are typically found in higher concentrations in meat and other animal
products than in plants.
"A poor
intake of these nutrients can reduce bone mineral density and muscle mass,
increasing the risk of hip fracture. To assist people in making healthy
decisions, it is crucial to conduct an additional study to better understand
the causes of the increased risk among vegetarians, whether it be vitamin
inadequacies or weight control.
Vegan diets are gaining popularity
Vegetarian diets
have gained popularity in recent years. A YouGov survey in 2021 estimated that
5-7% of the UK population is vegetarian. A vegetarian diet has been shown to
reduce the risk of various chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease,
and cancer, compared to an omnivorous diet.
To combat climate
change, there is also an international appeal to reduce the consumption of
animal products.
Understanding the
risk of hip fracture in vegetarians is becoming increasingly crucial for public
health.
Professor Janet
Cade, leader of the Nutritional Epidemiology Group in the School of Food
Science and Nutrition at the University of Leeds and co-author of the study,
stated, "Hip fracture is a global health issue with high economic costs
that causes loss of independence, reduces the quality of life, and increases
the risk of other health issues.
"Plant-based
diets have been associated with poor bone health, although there is a paucity
of evidence on the association with the risk of hip fracture. This study is a
significant step in understanding the potential dangers of plant-based diets
over the long term and what may be done to mitigate such risks."
The team utilized
data from the UK Women's Cohort Study to evaluate potential associations
between food and the risk of hip fracture. The nationwide cohort of middle-aged
women was formed at the University of Leeds to investigate the connections
between nutrition and chronic disease, spanning various dietary patterns. A
food frequency questionnaire was used to collect dietary data, which was then
validated using a 4-day food diary in a subsample of women.
When their
enrollment in the cohort study, the women's ages ranged from 35 to 69 years.
Impact of a low BMI
The research team
discovered that the average BMI of vegetarians was marginally lower than that
of regular meat eaters. Previous research has demonstrated a connection between
a low BMI and an elevated risk of hip fracture.
A lower BMI can
suggest that an individual is underweight, associated with poorer bone and
muscle health and an increased risk of hip fracture. Vegetarians are at a
higher risk, necessitating additional research to ascertain if a low BMI is to
blame.
Dr. Darren
Greenwood, a biostatistician at the Leeds School of Medicine and co-author of
the study, stated, "This study is only a small piece of the larger picture
of food and good bones and muscles in later age.
"Further
research is required to confirm whether similar results may be observed in men,
to investigate the influence of body weight, and to determine the causes for
the differences in outcomes between vegetarians and meat eaters."
