VRP Staff
Omega-3 fatty acids may protect against bone loss, possibly by helping the body retain stores of vitamins key to bone health such as vitamin D3 and calcium.
For 20 weeks, researchers fed male rats one of a number of different diets. One group received a diet supplemented with safflower oil (omega-6s) plus fish oil (omega-3s). Another group received a diet supplemented with safflower oil that was almost exclusively devoid of omega-3 fatty acids. A third group received fish oil plus corn oil, which served as the omega-3-rich diet.
After 20 weeks, all dietary treatment groups had a lower bone mineral density compared with the baseline reference. However, rats fed the omega-3-rich diet had the highest bone mineral content and bone mineral density compared with rodents fed the omega-6 and omega-6 plus omega-3 diet. Compared with the omega-6/omega-3 group, rats fed the omega-3-rich diet had higher values for serum insulin-like growth factor-I, parathyroid hormone, and vitamin D3. In addition, levels of an enzyme called alkaline phosphatase that functions in bone mineralization also were increased in the omega-3 group. Rats fed the high-omega-3-diet excreted less calcium in their urine, while rats fed the omega-6 diet had higher levels of the inflammatory prostaglandin E2.
According to the study authors, the findings indicate a protective action of omega-3 fatty acids on aging-induced bone loss in middle-aged male rats through a modulation of local factors and calcium-related hormones.
Reference:
Shen CL, Yeh JK, Rasty J, Li Y, Watkins BA. Protective effect of dietary long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on bone loss in gonad-intact middle-aged male rats. Br J Nutr. 2006 Mar;95(3):462-8.
