Veganism ‘can lead to more broken bones’, study finds

Vegans may be at greater risk of suffering broken bones because of their diet, researchers say.

Those on the trendy diet are 2.3 times more likely to break a hip than meat-eaters, a study of almost 55,000 people has found.

They are 43 per cent more likely to suffer a fracture generally. Vegetarians, meanwhile, are 25 per cent more likely to break a hip than those who eat meat.

It has been suggested that vegans’ bones are weaker because they avoid dairy products like cheese and milk.

There is some evidence that calcium intake in adulthood affects bone density, although it is unclear if this raises the risk of suffering a fracture.

A reasonable alternative explanation, based on the findings, is that vegans tend to be slimmer than meat-eaters.

While this may be good for their health in other ways, their bones have less weight to support, so could be weaker.

Slender vegans also have less fat to cushion any falls they have, which might make a broken bone more likely.

Dr Tammy Tong, lead author of the study from the Nuffield Department of Population Health at Oxford University, said: ‘This study showed that vegans, who on average had lower BMI (body mass index), as well as lower intakes of calcium and protein than meat-eaters, had higher risks of fractures at several sites.

‘Individuals should take into account the benefits and risks of their diet, and ensure that they have adequate levels of calcium and protein, and also maintain a healthy BMI – that is, neither under nor overweight.’ 

The results, published in the journal BMC Medicine, suggest 1,000 vegans would suffer almost 15 extra broken bones between them each decade compared to meat-eaters.

Vegetarians would suffer almost three extra fractures, with evidence suggesting that protein increases the body’s absorption of calcium, which may help to strengthen bones.

Researchers looked at almost 55,000 participants in the EPI-Oxford study, which recruited men and women between 1993 and 2001, and recorded their dietary preferences. 

Participants were followed up over almost 18 years on average, during which they suffered almost 4,000 fractures, according to hospital records and death certificates.

Vegans were 59 per cent more likely than meat-eaters to suffer fractures in ‘main sites’, such as breaking a rib or collarbone, although closer analysis suggests this was driven by them breaking bones in their spine.

The new findings do not differentiate between people who broke their bones from accidents such as car crashes, and those who may have suffered fractures because their bones were fragile.