Chocolate linked to weaker bones?

[Guest guest]

Chocolate linked to weaker bones

By Charlotte Eyre

15/01/2008- New research suggests that regular consumption of

chocolate may weaken bone density and strength, which in turn could

increase the risk of health problems such as osteoporosis and fracture.

According to the study, published this month in the American Journal

of Clinical Nutrition, women who eat chocolate daily have an overall

bone density 3.1 per cent lower than those who consume it less than

once a week.

The findings will surely come as a blow to the positive image of dark

chocolate, often feted for having its heart-healthy properties.

" Cocoa and chocolate have been promoted as having a range of

beneficial cardiovascular properties, " said head researcher

Hodgson, from the University of Western Australia. " But the effect of

chocolate intake on other organ systems has not been studied. "

For the study, 1,001 women aged 70 - 85 were randomly assigned either

oral calcium supplements or a matched placebo for a period of several

weeks. During this period they were also asked to keep a dairy of how

often they consumed chocolate or cocoa-based drinks.

The researchers did no distinguish between types of chocolate consumed.

At the end of the allotted time Hodgson and his colleagues measured

the whole-body and regional bone density and strengh of each

participant using X-rays.

The researchers found that the women who ate chocolate less than once

a week had significantly stronger bones than those who consumed the

treat on a daily basis, with calcium supplementation having little

effect on the results.

" Additional studies are needed to confirm these observations, but

confirmation of these findings could have important implications for

prevention of osteoporotic fracture, " the scientists said.

Hodgson suggests even though chocolate contains flavonols and calcium,

both linked to having a positive effect on bone density, the

confectionery product also contains oxalate, an inhibitor of calcium

absorption, and sugar, linked to calcium excretion.

The study comes less than a month after British medical journal the

Lancet warned against viewing chocolate as a health food, saying that

consumers are generally unaware that manufacturers remove the healthy

element - the flavanols.

Bridget Aisbett, spokesperson from the British Nutrition Foundation,

agreed that information over how healthy chocolate actually is should

always be treated with a degree of caution.

" There has been a lot of scientific research into the health

properties of chocolate - both for and against, and so consumers

should not regard it as health food, but rather as an occasional

treat, " she told ConfectioneryNews.com.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Authors: J. M. Hodgson and others

http://www.ap-foodtechnology.com/news/ng.asp?n=82549 & m=1APF115 & c=eepddtxhprfgmgi

The abstract:

Chocolate consumption and bone density in older women1,2,3

M Hodgson, Devine, Burke, Ian M Dick and

L Prince

1 From the Royal Perth Hospital Unit (JMH and VB), the Sir

Gairdner Hospital Unit (AD, IMD, and RLP), the University of Western

Australia School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Perth, Australia;

Western Australian Institute for Medical Research, Perth, Australia

(JMH); the Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir

Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Australia (AD, IMD, and RLP); and the School

of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Science, Edith Cowan University,

Perth, Australia (AD)

Background: Nutrition is important for the development and maintenance

of bone structure and for the prevention of osteoporosis and fracture.

The relation of chocolate intake with bone has yet to be investigated.

Objective: We investigated the relation of chocolate consumption with

measurements of whole-body and regional bone density and strength.

Design: Randomly selected women aged 70–85 y (n = 1460) were recruited

from the general population to a randomized controlled trial of

calcium supplementation and fracture risk. We present here a

cross-sectional analysis of 1001 of these women. Bone density and

strength were measured with the use of dual-energy X-ray

absorptiometry, peripheral quantitative computed tomography, and

quantitative ultrasonography. Frequency of chocolate intake was

assessed with the use of a questionnaire and condensed into 3

categories: <1 time/wk, 1–6 times/wk, & #8805;1 time/d.

Results: Higher frequency of chocolate consumption was linearly

related to lower bone density and strength (P < 0.05). Daily ( & #8805;1

times/d) consumption of chocolate, in comparison to <1 time/wk, was

associated with a 3.1% lower whole-body bone density; with similarly

lower bone density of the total hip, femoral neck, tibia, and heel;

and with lower bone strength in the tibia and the heel (P < 0.05, for

all). Adjustment for covariates did not influence interpretation of

the results.

Conclusions: Older women who consume chocolate daily had lower bone

density and strength. Additional cross-sectional and longitudinal

studies are needed to confirm these observations. Confirmation of

these findings could have important implications for prevention of

osteoporotic fracture.

Key Words: Chocolate • bone mineral density • older women •

cross-sectional study • flavonoids • oxalate • fracture risk

[Guest guest]

So old women who eat more chocolate have statistically slightly lower

bone density on average. And the guy suggests that this isn't a function

of general nutrition or general sugar intake levels.

Some people will do anything for a headline.

Maco

At 07:15 AM 1/17/2008, you wrote:

Chocolate linked to weaker

bones

By Charlotte Eyre

15/01/2008- New research suggests that regular consumption of

chocolate may weaken bone density and strength, which in turn could

increase the risk of health problems such as osteoporosis and

fracture.

According to the study, published this month in the American Journal

of Clinical Nutrition, women who eat chocolate daily have an overall

bone density 3.1 per cent lower than those who consume it less than

once a week.

The findings will surely come as a blow to the positive image of

dark

chocolate, often feted for having its heart-healthy properties.

" Cocoa and chocolate have been promoted as having a range of

beneficial cardiovascular properties, " said head researcher

Hodgson, from the University of Western Australia. " But the effect

of

chocolate intake on other organ systems has not been

studied. "

For the study, 1,001 women aged 70 - 85 were randomly assigned

either

oral calcium supplements or a matched placebo for a period of

several

weeks. During this period they were also asked to keep a dairy of

how

often they consumed chocolate or cocoa-based drinks.

The researchers did no distinguish between types of chocolate

consumed.

At the end of the allotted time Hodgson and his colleagues measured

the whole-body and regional bone density and strengh of each

participant using X-rays.

The researchers found that the women who ate chocolate less than

once

a week had significantly stronger bones than those who consumed the

treat on a daily basis, with calcium supplementation having little

effect on the results.

" Additional studies are needed to confirm these observations,

but

confirmation of these findings could have important implications for

prevention of osteoporotic fracture, " the scientists said.

Hodgson suggests even though chocolate contains flavonols and

calcium,

both linked to having a positive effect on bone density, the

confectionery product also contains oxalate, an inhibitor of calcium

absorption, and sugar, linked to calcium excretion.

The study comes less than a month after British medical journal the

Lancet warned against viewing chocolate as a health food, saying

that

consumers are generally unaware that manufacturers remove the

healthy

element - the flavanols.

Bridget Aisbett, spokesperson from the British Nutrition Foundation,

agreed that information over how healthy chocolate actually is

should

always be treated with a degree of caution.

" There has been a lot of scientific research into the health

properties of chocolate - both for and against, and so consumers

should not regard it as health food, but rather as an occasional

treat, " she told ConfectioneryNews.com.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Authors: J. M. Hodgson and others

http://www.ap-foodtechnology.com/news/ng.asp?n=82549 & m=1APF115 & c=eepddtxhprfgmgi

The abstract:

Chocolate consumption and bone density in older women1,2,3

M Hodgson, Devine, Burke, Ian M Dick and

L Prince

1 From the Royal Perth Hospital Unit (JMH and VB), the Sir

Gairdner Hospital Unit (AD, IMD, and RLP), the University of Western

Australia School of Medicine and Pharmacology, Perth, Australia;

Western Australian Institute for Medical Research, Perth, Australia

(JMH); the Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir

Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Australia (AD, IMD, and RLP); and the

School

of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Science, Edith Cowan University,

Perth, Australia (AD)

Background: Nutrition is important for the development and

maintenance

of bone structure and for the prevention of osteoporosis and

fracture.

The relation of chocolate intake with bone has yet to be

investigated.

Objective: We investigated the relation of chocolate consumption

with

measurements of whole-body and regional bone density and

strength.

Design: Randomly selected women aged 70–85 y (n = 1460) were

recruited

from the general population to a randomized controlled trial of

calcium supplementation and fracture risk. We present here a

cross-sectional analysis of 1001 of these women. Bone density and

strength were measured with the use of dual-energy X-ray

absorptiometry, peripheral quantitative computed tomography, and

quantitative ultrasonography. Frequency of chocolate intake was

assessed with the use of a questionnaire and condensed into 3

categories: <1 time/wk, 1–6 times/wk, & #8805;1 time/d.

Results: Higher frequency of chocolate consumption was linearly

related to lower bone density and strength (P < 0.05). Daily

( & #8805;1

times/d) consumption of chocolate, in comparison to <1 time/wk,

was

associated with a 3.1% lower whole-body bone density; with similarly

lower bone density of the total hip, femoral neck, tibia, and heel;

and with lower bone strength in the tibia and the heel (P < 0.05,

for

all). Adjustment for covariates did not influence interpretation of

the results.

Conclusions: Older women who consume chocolate daily had lower bone

density and strength. Additional cross-sectional and longitudinal

studies are needed to confirm these observations. Confirmation of

these findings could have important implications for prevention of

osteoporotic fracture.

Key Words: Chocolate • bone mineral density • older women •

cross-sectional study • flavonoids • oxalate • fracture risk

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