A lifelong vegan diet has no adverse effects on bone mineral density compared to an omnivorous diet, concluded researchers who matched 105 postmenopausal Buddhist nuns who followed a vegan diet to 105 omnivorous women. The researchers analyzed bone mass at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and whole body, and collected a structured food questionnaire for each participant. The vegan group consumed less calcium, 375 g/day compared to 683 g/day, and their total protein intake was significantly less, 35.3 g/day compared to 62.6 g/day.
Ho-Pham LT, Nguyen PLT, Le TTT, et al. Veganism, bone mineral density, and body composition: a study in Buddhist nuns. Osteoporos Int. 2009. Published online April 7, 2009: DOI 10.1007/s00198-009-0916-z.
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