An omnivorous diet protects better against the risk of fracture and osteoporosis, unlike vegetarian and vegan diets, according to rheumatologist Bernard Cortet.
- Osteoporosis is 2 to 3 times more common in women than in men, due to menopause, according to L’Assurance Maladie.
- 5% of the world’s population (375 million people) are vegetarian or vegan.
Bone health depends on diet and some diets are more dangerous than others. Indeed, the calcium and protein content in the diet is eminently important for strong bones. However, these may be lacking if one follows a vegetarian or vegan diet, according to rheumatologist Bernard Cortet.
While vegetarians only exclude the consumption of animal flesh, vegans or vegans have a way of life that combines an exclusive plant diet and the refusal to consume any product (clothing, shoes, cosmetics, etc.) derived from animals or of their operation.
“A vegan, compared to a vegetarian, is more at risk of bone fragility”
“There is interesting data showing that these diets, and particularly vegan diets, are deleterious to bone health. The risk of fractures would also be greater. A vegan, compared to a vegetarian, is more at risk of bone fragility. says the expert.
This population has indeed a lower bone mineral density and is therefore exposed to an increased risk of fracture, compared to omnivores. For example, they have a risk 2 times above average to break the hip because lovers of meat products would consume more calcium, important components of bones, and proteins that facilitate the absorption of calcium from food.
It is the exclusion of dairy products -an important source of calcium-, which would notably expose vegans to a higher risk of fractures and osteoporosis, according to Bernard Cortet. Osteoporosis is a diffuse disease of the skeleton characterized by “decreased bone density and alterations in bone micro-architecture. These alterations make the bone more fragile and increase the risk of fracture.“, indicates theHealth Insurance.
Osteoporosis: monitoring your diet is essential
The specialist recommends that people who follow these diets make it known so that their medical follow-up is more specific, to assess their bone status and to take the necessary measures in the context of their diet.
Monitoring your calcium and protein intake is therefore recommended. In addition to dairy products, calcium is found in many other foods, including cruciferous vegetables, certain mineral waters (such as Hépar, Courmayeur, Contrex), almonds, sardines… Vegetable proteins are found in legumes, oilseeds and certain cereals.
Vitamin D is also essential for bone health, says Bernard Cortet. Unlike other vitamins that are mainly found in food, vitamin D is only found in a limited way on our plate (oily fish, eggs, dairy products, in particular when they are enriched with vitamin D). It is mainly acquired by our exposure to the sun.
The High Council of Public Health thus advises to ensure a moderate but sufficient sun exposure and compatible with the messages of prevention of the cutaneous cancers to fight against the osteoporosis.
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