Plant omega-3 fatty acids improve bone health

[Juhana Har]

Consuming more plant omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) like
walnuts and flaxseeds oil improves bone health according to a
new controlled feeding study in humans.

http://tinyurl.com/37f7fy

http://www.nutritionj.com/content/6/1/2 (The full study is
also freely available. Click 'pdf'.)

--
Juhana

[Juhana Har]

Juhana Harju wrote:
: Consuming more plant omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) like
: walnuts and flaxseeds oil improves bone health according to
: a new controlled feeding study in humans.
:
: http://tinyurl.com/37f7fy
:
: http://www.nutritionj.com/content/6/1/2 (The full study is
: also freely available. Click 'pdf'.)

IMHO, there is also a possibility that the reduction in bone
resorption markers can be accounted for myricetin or
gamma-tocopherol in walnuts. The study group ate 37 grams
walnuts, 15 grams walnut oil and ~ 20 grams flaxseed oil
daily. Walnuts are an exceptionally high source of myricetin
and a good source of gamma-tocopherol.

--
Juhana

[Juhana Har]

Juhana Harju wrote:
: Juhana Harju wrote:
:: Consuming more plant omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
:: like walnuts and flaxseeds oil improves bone health
:: according to a new controlled feeding study in humans.
::
:: http://tinyurl.com/37f7fy
::
:: http://www.nutritionj.com/content/6/1/2 (The full study is
:: also freely available. Click 'pdf'.)
:
: IMHO, there is also a possibility that the reduction in bone
: resorption markers can be accounted for myricetin or
: gamma-tocopherol in walnuts. The study group ate 37 grams
: walnuts, 15 grams walnut oil and ~ 20 grams flaxseed oil
: daily. Walnuts are an exceptionally high source of myricetin
: and a good source of gamma-tocopherol.

Actually there is some evidence for the benefit of myricetin
and vitamin E. Myricetin increases bone formation and vitamin
E may suppress bone resorption.

(1) Biochem Pharmacol. 2007 Feb 15;73(4):504-14. Epub 2006 Oct
26. Myricetin induces human osteoblast differentiation
through bone morphogenetic protein-2/p38 mitogen-activated
protein kinase pathway. Hsu YL, Chang JK, Tsai CH, Chien
TT, Kuo PL. Department of Pharmacy, Chia-Nan University of
Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan.

Myricetin (3,3',4',5,5',7-hexahydroxyflavone), a flavonoid
compound, is present in vegetables and fruits. By means of
alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, osteocalcin, and type I
collagen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we have
shown that myricetin exhibits a significant induction of
differentiation in MG-63 and hFOB human osteoblasts. Alkaline
phosphatase and osteocalcin are phenotypic markers for
early-stage differentiated osteoblasts and terminally
differentiated osteoblasts, respectively. Our results indicate
that myricetin stimulates osteoblast differentiation at
various stages, from maturation to terminally differentiated
osteoblasts. Induction of differentiation by myricetin is
associated with increased bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2)
production. The BMP-2 antagonist noggin blocked
myricetin-mediated ALP activity and osteocalcin secretion
enhancement, indicating that BMP-2 production is required in
myricetin-mediated osteoblast maturation and differentiation.
Induction of differentiation by myricetin is associated with
increased activation of SMAD1/5/8 and p38 mitogen-activated
protein kinases. Cotreatment of p38 inhibitor SB203580
inhibited myricetin-mediated ALP upregulation and osteocalcin
production. In conclusion, myricetin increased BMP-2
synthesis, and subsequently activated SMAD1/5/8 and p38 MAPK,
and this effect may contribute to its action on the induction
of osteoblast maturation and differentiation, followed by an
increase of bone mass. PMID: 17113042

(2) J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2006 Apr;15(3):295-300.
Antioxidant vitamin supplements and markers of bone
turnover in a community sample of nonsmoking women. Pasco
JA, Henry MJ, Wilkinson LK, Nicholson GC, Schneider HG,
Kotowicz MA. The University of Melbourne, Department of
Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Barwon Health, Geelong,
Victoria, Australia.

BACKGROUND: Whereas several epidemiological studies suggest
that low dietary intake of vitamins C and E is linked to
increased hip fracture in smokers and antioxidants (dietary
and endogenous) are reduced in elderly osteoporotic women,
none has demonstrated an effect of supplemental antioxidants
on bone turnover. METHODS: In an observational study of 533
randomly selected women, we investigated the associations
among the use of antioxidant supplements, vitamins C and E,
serum levels of biochemical markers of bone turnover
(C-telopeptide [CTx] and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase
[BSAP]), and whole body bone mineral density (BMD). RESULTS:
Twenty-two women were identified as current users of
supplemental vitamin C or E. Duration of antioxidant
supplement use was negatively associated with age-adjusted and
weight-adjusted serum CTx, such that mean CTx levels (natural
log transformed) were 0.022 units lower for each year of
exposure. No significant differences were detected for
adjusted serum BSAP or whole body BMD. CONCLUSIONS: Our
results suggest that antioxidant vitamin E or C supplements
may suppress bone resorption in nonsmoking postmenopausal
women. Coupling of bone formation and resorption may explain
the absence of an effect on bone formation markers, given
evidence of enhanced effects of antioxidants on osteoblast
differentiation; this warrants further investigation. This
work adds to the growing body of evidence that antioxidants
may play a role in preventing osteoporosis. PMID: 16620188

--
Juhana

[Ron Peters]

Juhana Harju wrote:
> Consuming more plant omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) like
> walnuts and flaxseeds oil improves bone health according to
> a new controlled feeding study in humans.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/37f7fy
>
> http://www.nutritionj.com/content/6/1/2 (The full study is
> also freely available. Click 'pdf'.)

The study is interesting, but needs to have more subjects and
extend over a longer time and actually measure changes in
bone strength.

There is a reduction in saturated fat for omega 6 and omega 3
cases, so the paper claims some benefit from that.

The omega 3 test has a very low omega 6/omega 3 ratio so it
may be difficult to achieve under normal diets and may be
counter productive in terms of cardiovascular disease.

--
Ron