Sobering figures released by the International Osteoporosis Foundation state that about one in every three women and one in every five men over the age of 50 live with osteoporosis; a disease in which bones weaken and become prone to fractures.
The risk of such complications is particularly high among menopausal women, as they experience bone mineral density loss during the transition period.
Given the rate at which populations are ageing, scientists have warned that the disease could become a bigger problem in the years to come, with some estimates suggesting the prevalence of osteoporosis-related hip fractures could double by 2050.
Fortunately, new research shows that a low-calorie Mediterranean diet combined with exercise could offer significant protection.
The Mediterranean diet is rich in vegetables, fruits, and legumes
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The energy-reduced version of the Mediterranean diet contains all the healthy foods of a typical plan - such as vegetables, fruits, and legumes - but with controlled portion sizes.
The results were especially promising in tackling age-related bone mineral density decline in older women with metabolic syndrome who are overweight or obese.
The study involved 924 male and female participants with an average age of 65, all of whom had metabolic syndrome and were overweight or obese.
Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups; the first followed an energy-reduced Mediterranean diet combined with increased physical activity, while the second followed a standard Mediterranean diet with no additional exercise.
Researchers observed that participants in the first group experienced "significant improvements" in bone mineral density - particularly in the lower back.
The results appeared over the course of three years, especially among women.
Past studies have shown that a diet rich in vitamin D and calcium offers good protection for the bones, as does regularly engaging in exercises that strengthen muscles and bones.
While calcium intake in the Mediterranean diet may not be as high as other diets, vitamin D can be obtained from oily fish and some types of fungi.
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Researchers observed significant improvements in bone density in the lower back among participants following a calorie-reduced version of the Mediterranean diet
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Jesús F. Garcia-Gavilán, PhD and lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Spain, told Medical News Today: “An energy-reduced Mediterranean diet is a variation of the traditional Mediterranean diet that contains fewer calories.
“It still emphasises healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, olive oil, and fish, but with controlled sizes to support weight loss.
“The traditional Mediterranean diet is also a healthy dietary pattern, but it is typically food consumed without specific limit on portion sizes.
“A well-balanced, reduced-calorie Mediterranean diet combined with physical activity can assist older women not only in losing weight but also in protecting their bones, particularly in the spine, with bone loss can lead to serious fractures and disability.”
