Vegetarian Women More Likely To Fracture Hips In Later Life, Study Shows

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- The Guardian, Aug. 11, 2022. 'Vegetarian women more likely to fracture hips in later life, study shows.' Ed.

Research suggests some vegetarians may not get sufficient nutrients for good bone and muscle health. Women who are vegetarian are more likely to experience hip fractures in later life than those who frequently eat meat, a UK study has found.

Researchers analysed health and diet records from more than 26,000 women and found that over a roughly 22-year period, vegetarians were a third more likely to break a hip than those who regularly ate meat. Scientists estimate that food production causes 35% of greenhouse gas emissions, and meat is responsible for more than twice the pollution of plants.

The reasons for the greater risk are unclear but researchers suspect some vegetarians may not get sufficient nutrients for good bone & muscle health, leaving them prone to falls & fractures. “The message for vegetarians is don’t give up your diet, because it is healthy for other things & environmentally friendly, but do take care to plan well & don’t miss out on nutrients that you exclude when you don’t eat meat or fish,” said Dr James Webster, a researcher at the University of Leeds.

Vegetarian diets are often considered healthier than meat-containing diets & they can reduce the risk of diabetes, obesity, heart disease & certain cancers. But the study published in BMC Medicine highlights the importance of a balanced diet whatever people eat.. Webster said vegetarians may want to consider eating fortified cereal with added iron & B12 for bone health, & to ensure they are getting enough protein, through foods such as nuts, legumes & beans... More, https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/aug/11/vegetarian-women-fracture-hips-study-bone-health