Originally published August 17 2005
Eating fish can help prevent bone fractures
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A new study has shown that consuming fish oil can help people avoid bone fractures.
It found that at least 91.6% of the patients had what the researchers claim to be "insufficient" levels of vitamin D, which is necessary to help the body absorb calcium and keep bones healthy.
Dr Gallacher, the lead researcher and a consultant endocrinologist at the Southern General, believes the traditional Scots diet and climate are the main contributory factors.
"There are two good sources of vitamin D. One is sunlight.
But unfortunately at this latitude we get sunlight of insufficient wavelength and strength to make enough vitamin D for us.
The best source of dietary vitamin D is oily fish, such as herring and mackerel, which is much more of a Scandinavian diet than a West of Scotland diet."
He added: "Hip fractures kill a lot of people.
Approximately one third of all women who suffer a hip fracture are dead within 12 months.
For men, the figure is half (of the total)."
The number of hip fractures in Scotland has increased from 4000 per year in 1982 to 6065 in 2003.
But people may be taking calcium and forgetting vitamin D, which is every bit as important."
However, the significance of his team's findings were questioned by an osteoporosis expert.
Dr Helen MacDonald, a senior research fellow based at Aberdeen's Osteoporosis Research Unit, pointed out that there was no consensus on what constitutes a "sufficient" level of vitamin D. She also said it was too early to conclude that increasing intake of Vitamin D would reduce the risk of hip fracture.
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