Omega-3s Preserve Bone Density

SAN DIEGO--A higher intake of omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) appears to help preserve bone mineral density (BMD), according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (81, 4:934-8, 2005). Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, looked at the association between BMD and the dietary intake of omega-6 and omega-3 EFAs in more than 1,500 men and women over a four-year period. They found a significant inverse association between the ratio of dietary linoleic acid to alpha-linolenic acid and BMD at the hip; in addition, a higher ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s was associated with lower BMD at the hip. The researchers concluded a more balanced intake of omega-6s to omega-3s could preserve skeletal integrity in older age.