Mediterranean diets ‘can offer protective benefits for bones’

Mediterranean diets rich in olive oil can help to strengthen people's bones against fractures and breakages, according to a new study.

Researchers in Spain made this discovery when assessing 127 men aged 55 to 80 years to assess the effect of their diet on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

It was found that those eating olive oil-rich diets olive oil benefited from a significant increase in the concentrations of osteocalcin and other bone formation markers.

This backs up the conclusion of previous research suggesting that the incidence of osteoporosis in Europe is lower in the Mediterranean basin, with nutritional choices seen as a key environmental factor.

Study author Dr Jose Manuel Fernandez-Real of the Hospital Dr Josep Trueta in Girona, said: "The intake of olive oil has been related to the prevention of osteoporosis in experimental and in vitro models. This is the first randomised study which demonstrates that olive oil preserves bone."

Osteoporosis affects around three million people in the UK at present, with more than 250,000 fractures occurring every year as a result.