Bone health
Other key nutrients in bone health — essential fatty acids (EFA’s)
by Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD
Conventional wisdom tells us we should cut the fat in our diet, and indeed, too
much of the wrong kinds of fat can be detrimental to bone health by decreasing calcium
absorption. On average, we Americans consume more than one-third of our calories
as fat.
But what we are just beginning to appreciate is that our bodies require certain
fats, just as they require certain vitamins and minerals, proteins, fiber, and water.
These fats are called essential fatty acids because they are not produced
by the body and must be consumed in the diet or by supplementation. These fatty
acids are essential for nerve functioning, hormone production, for the maintenance
and functioning of the brain, and for everyday energy production.
Fatty acids also play multiple roles in bone structure, function, and development.
Fats are required for proper calcium metabolism, and they are essential components
of all membranes, including those of cartilage and bone.
As explained by essential fatty acid researcher Dr. David Horrobin, EFA’s
increase calcium absorption from the gut,
in part by enhancing the effects of vitamin D.
They also regulate and reduce urinary excretion of calcium, possibly by reducing
production of pro-inflammatory molecules called prostaglandins. In fact,
the role omega-3 fatty acids play in countering
inflammation is arguably their most bone-critical mission.
EFA’s have also been found to increase calcium deposition in bone, which is
not surprising since bone calcification must take place in the presence of a type
of fat known as a phospholipid. Finally, essential fatty acids appear to
improve bone strength, possibly by fomenting collagen synthesis.
For more on essential fatty acids, see the following articles:
Click here to return to 20 key bone health nutrients.
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Related to this article:
References & further reading on the
20 key bone-building nutrients
Last Modified:
04/18/2011
Principal Author: Dr. Susan E. Brown, PhD