Dairy products contain a high level of nutrients known to benefit bone health, but they offer little help in preventing bone loss and fractures in women at risk, according to new research.
Women have higher rates of osteoporosis than men, and dairy intake has long been considered a modifiable factor in preserving bone health as women age. But the study showed no benefits from dairy consumption on femoral and spine bone density as participants transitioned through menopause, said lead author Taylor C. Wallace, Ph.D., CFS, of George Mason University.
The findings are based on an analysis of U.S. health data from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. The researchers looked at the impact of four dairy groups on ten-year bone mineral density outcomes among participants.
“This study adds to the existing, albeit inconsistent, data suggesting a lack of benefit from dairy intake on bone mineral density and fracture risk,” wrote Stephanie Faubion, medical director of the North American Menopause Society, which published the findings in the journal Menopause. But a Mediterrean-style diet that includes moderate amounts of low-fat dairy has other important, established health benefits for older adults, she added.
Factors that have been shown to reduce falls risk include regular weight-bearing exercise such as walking, and activities that improve strength and balance such as yoga and tai chi, Faubion concluded.
