Raw Food Diet Impacts Bone Mass

ST. LOUIS, Mo.--A study in the Archives of Internal Medicine (165, 6:684-9, 2005) compares several health parameters of individuals following a raw food vegetarian diet with those of individuals following a typical American diet. The 18 raw foodies had followed their diet for more than three years; health measurements included body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density, bone turnover markers, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, vitamin D levels and insulin-like growth factor. Overall, the vegetarians fared well, with lower BMIs (average of 20.5 compared to 25.4 in controls), and lower levels of the inflammatory marker CRP and insulin-like growth factor. Mean bone mineral content and density of the lumbar spine and hip were lower in the vegetarians; however, bone turnover markers were similar between groups.