Journal article
Effect of periodic abstinence from dairy products for approximately half of the year on bone health in adults following the Christian Orthodox Church fasting rules for decades.
- Rodopaios NE Department of Social Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Nutrition, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece. nikow1966@yahoo.gr.
- Mougios V Laboratory of Evaluation of Human Biological Performance, School of Physical Education and Sport Science at Thessaloniki, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
- Konstantinidou A Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Alexander Technological and Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Sindos, Greece.
- Iosifidis S Department of Nutrition Science and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
- Koulouri AA Department of Social Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Nutrition, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
- Vasara E Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
- Papadopoulou SK Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Alexander Technological and Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Sindos, Greece.
- Skepastianos P Department of Medical Laboratory Studies, Alexander Technological and Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Sindos, Greece.
- Dermitzakis E Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Hassapidou M Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Alexander Technological and Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Sindos, Greece.
- Kafatos AG Department of Social Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Nutrition, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
- 2019-06-28
Published in:
- Archives of osteoporosis. - 2019
Bone mineral density
Calcium
Christian Orthodox Church fasting
Dairy
Osteoporosis
Vitamin D
Aged
Animals
Bone Density
Case-Control Studies
Dairy Products
Eastern Orthodoxy
Fasting
Female
Femur Neck
Greece
Humans
Lumbar Vertebrae
Male
Middle Aged
Osteoporosis
Prevalence
Vitamin D
English
Christian Orthodox Church (COC) fasting is characterized by periodic abstinence from animal foods (including dairy products). We found that, despite this, older individuals adhering to COC fasting for decades did not differ in bone mineral density, bone mineral content, or prevalence of osteoporosis at five sites from non-fasting controls.
PURPOSE
The present observational study investigated whether adherence to COC fasting, characterized by periodic abstinence from animal foods (including dairy products), affects bone health and the prevalence of osteoporosis in older individuals.
METHODS
Participants were 200 men and women, of whom 100 had been following the fasting rules of the COC for a median of 31 years and 100 were non-fasters, all aged 50 to 78 years. Participants underwent measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) at the lumbar spine, right hip, left hip, right femoral neck, and left femoral neck; completed a 3-day food intake record and food frequency questionnaire; and provided blood samples for biochemical measurements.
RESULTS
Fasters did not differ from non-fasters in demographic characteristics, anthropometric measures, BMD, BMC, or prevalence of osteopenia or osteoporosis at any of the five sites measured (P > 0.05). Fasters had lower daily calcium intake than non-fasters (median 532 vs 659 mg, P = 0.010), daily protein intake (0.67 vs 0.71 g/kg, P = 0.028), and consumption of dairy and soy products (10.3 vs 15.3 servings per week, P < 0.001). Groups did not differ in serum calcium, vitamin D, or urea concentrations.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite lower calcium intake and lower consumption of dairy and soy products, older individuals adhering to COC fasting did not differ in BMD, BMC, or prevalence of osteoporosis from controls. Thus, periodic abstinence from dairy and, generally, animal products does not seem to compromise bone health in older individuals.
PURPOSE
The present observational study investigated whether adherence to COC fasting, characterized by periodic abstinence from animal foods (including dairy products), affects bone health and the prevalence of osteoporosis in older individuals.
METHODS
Participants were 200 men and women, of whom 100 had been following the fasting rules of the COC for a median of 31 years and 100 were non-fasters, all aged 50 to 78 years. Participants underwent measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) at the lumbar spine, right hip, left hip, right femoral neck, and left femoral neck; completed a 3-day food intake record and food frequency questionnaire; and provided blood samples for biochemical measurements.
RESULTS
Fasters did not differ from non-fasters in demographic characteristics, anthropometric measures, BMD, BMC, or prevalence of osteopenia or osteoporosis at any of the five sites measured (P > 0.05). Fasters had lower daily calcium intake than non-fasters (median 532 vs 659 mg, P = 0.010), daily protein intake (0.67 vs 0.71 g/kg, P = 0.028), and consumption of dairy and soy products (10.3 vs 15.3 servings per week, P < 0.001). Groups did not differ in serum calcium, vitamin D, or urea concentrations.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite lower calcium intake and lower consumption of dairy and soy products, older individuals adhering to COC fasting did not differ in BMD, BMC, or prevalence of osteoporosis from controls. Thus, periodic abstinence from dairy and, generally, animal products does not seem to compromise bone health in older individuals.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1007/s11657-019-0625-y
- PMID 31243579
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/232675
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