Positive Health Online

Abstract

WEISS and colleagues, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA, have studied the ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids and its connection to bone mineral density.

Background

Studies suggest that n-3 fatty acids can protect against several diseases, notably heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. A role in the health of bones has also been suggested. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids in diet and bone mineral density.

Methodology

1532 men and women over the age of 45 participated in this study. Diet was evaluated with a food-frequency questionnaire, and bone density was measured at hip and spine with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The data were analyzed by multiple-adjusted linear regression.

Results

There was a significant inverse association between the ratio of dietary linoleic acid (an important precursor of n-6 acids) to alpha-linolenic acid (an important precursor of n-3 acids) and bone density. In women, there was also a significant association between higher total n-6 to total n-3 intake and lower bone density.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that the relative amounts of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly the ration of n-6 to n-3 acids, may play a vital role in preserving skeletal integrity in older age.

References

Weiss LA, Barrett-Connor E, von Muhlen D. Ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids and bone mineral density in older adults: the Rancho Bernardo Study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 81 (4): 934-938, Apr 2005.