Osteoporosis is a potentially crippling ailment characterized by a loss of bone density. There is a pervasive public belief that vegans have a substantially higher risk of developing osteoporosis than their dairy consuming counterparts. However, two recent studies reported in Osteoporosis International and the Asian Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition show that vegans need not be excessively concerned about the onset of osteoporosis.
The first study, conducted in 2009 at the Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine in Vietnam, compared the bone densities of 105 vegan Buddhist nuns with those of 105 omnivorous women. Scientists measured all the women’s bone densities by specifically examining the hips and lower spinal regions as well as by performing full body scans. Although the vegan nuns consumed less calcium, there was not a notable difference between the two groups’ bone densities.
A second study conducted in 2008 at the Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital in Taiwan examined the bone densities of 1865 men and women with varying dietary habits. Based upon this study, the researchers concluded that the vegan population does not develop a disproportionate number of osteoporosis cases. Further, this study provided evidence that vegans’ bodies process calcium more efficiently than omnivores’ bodies since excessive meat derived protein consumption interferes with calcium absoption.
Although vegans are at no greater risk for osteoporosis than omnivores, these studies do not indicate that vegans should be entirely unconcerned with this disease. In order to decrease the liklihood of developing osteoporosis, vegans should regularly consume naturally calcium rich foods such as broccoli, soybeans, almonds, and blackberries. Regular exercise is also key to maintaining strong, healthy bones.