Study “Vegetarian Diet Weakens Bones” Funded By Dairy Products Industry
Thanks again to Dr. McDougall for being a careful reader of the “current literature.” In keeping with the current article on DrMericle.com about reading and evaluating current literature and the often lofty claims of many diet and weight loss programs,
http://www.DrMericle.com/howtoreaddietinformation.php
Dr. McDougall discovers who funded this latest barrage of “pure rubbish” that is critical of the healthiest and safest diet for humans and planet Earth -The Vegan Diet.
>>>Article Start
Advertising Passed Off As Research
Confuses the Public Again
Vegetarian Diet “Weakens Bones” (Worldwide headlines July 2, 2009)
A joint Australian-Vietnamese meta-analysis of 9 observational studies of 2,749 people found that vegetarians had bones five percent less dense than meat-eaters and vegans were six percent weaker. However, the results were of such little significance that the authors ended their paper by saying: “In conclusion, the results of this meta-analysis suggest that there is a modest effect of vegetarian diets, particularly a vegan diet, on BMD, but the effect size is unlikely to result in a clinically important increase in fracture risk.”
This article, released ahead of scheduled publication, which gives the public the perception that the news was so important that it could not wait, in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition was by the same authors as the vegan-osteoporosis article I discussed in my June 2009 newsletter. The article I reported on received little press worldwide and showed results very favorable for a vegan diet and bone health. Published in the April 2009 issue of the journal Osteoporosis International, the same researchers directly examined 105 postmenopausal Mahayana Buddhist nuns, and compared them to 105 omnivorous women and found, “…although vegans have much lower intakes of dietary calcium and protein than omnivores, veganism does not have (an) adverse effect on bone mineral density (BMD) and does not alter body composition.”
The highly publicized study showing negative effects of a vegan diet was a meta-analysis—a selected compilation of similar studies. This kind of analysis is notorious for showing bias and is easily manipulated by the choice of studies included or excluded in the research paper. Because of the ease of exploitation, meta-analysis has been referred to as an exercise in “mega-silliness.” Their original research found 922 studies, but after applying exclusion criteria there were only 9 studies left, which included 2749 individuals; 5 studies were of Asians, populations where osteoporosis-related fractures are much lower because of their healthier diet and greater physical activity, than Westerners.
This analysis found no correlation between dietary calcium intake or protein intake and BMD. The results comparing diets of vegetarians and omnivores with BMD were considered clinically insignificant by the authors. Furthermore, BMD is a poor predictor of future fracture risk. The criticisms could go on, making this one of the worst studies ever published in a respected journal. So why did this article condemning eating a vegan diet get so much attention?
This flawed research telling people worldwide that vegan diets are bad for the bones was funded by the AMBeR alliance incorporated in Malaysia, which owns Amber F&B Nutrition Sdn Bhd, a dairy products producer and wholesaler. This company’s business is the “manufacturing of sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk and dairy products.” Once a study is published then the public relations department of the industry takes over and sends “Press Releases” to the media worldwide. Because people love to hear “good news about their bad habits (eating beefsteaks, fried chicken, cheese, and ice cream),” the press and the public revel in this good news, even when the conclusions are untrue as in this case. You might think there would be at least one curious reporter who would read the research before spreading the lie.
You can write the authors at: tuan.nguyen@unsw.edu.au and ask your questions about the two studies and why the one funded by a dairy industry showing no relevance to a person’s choice of a vegan diet and the risk of fracture received so much worldwide attention.
© 2009 John McDougall All Rights Reserved
McDougall Wellness Center P.O. Box 14039, Santa Rosa, CA 95402
http://www.drmcdougall.com
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With all the studies on how Calcium is so important for bones strength I don’t think I could be a true vegan. But I feel the vegan diet is not at all bad just use a supplement to fill the gap if needed.
Hello Herbalife … First let me thank you for taking the time to comment. Actually, the studies you are referring to are as Dr. McDougall describes “advertising being passed off as science.” The need for calcium supplementation does not exist in vegetarians. It is actually just the reverse of what you stated. If you eat animals and drink milk you need more calcium as it is the meat and milk that “cause” osteoporosis. It is however, not well established that calcium supplementation will help much if at all, if you continue to destroy your bones by eating meat and drinking milk. Please see:
The Real Cause of Osteoporosis
Thanks … John Mericle M.D. D.A.B.R.
I like this article. Thank you.
Wow!
I wonder how much bigger elephants could get
or how much taller the giraffe would be if
they simply took “calcium supplementation”.
Obviously, a vegan diet does not provide the
calcium needed in nature?
Hello admin. Really interesting stuff. I also read at another site your body can\’t breakdown protein as we get older because of the lose of our natural ability to produce enzymes. This undigested proteins changes your Ph levels to acidic, your body then tries to neutralize the acidity with calcium. The best place your body pulls the calcium from is your bones; your bones then become week which causes Osteoporosis. Your thoughts on taking a digestive enzyme.
i became a Vegan three years ago and i can say that my health have been very very good. meat and dairy substitutes like soy also works well for the body.
This is so most ridiculously piece of propaganda. Its written in big “FUNDED BY THE DAIRY PRODUCTS INDUSTRY”.
This article published in April 16th 2009 speaks for itself
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/vegans-bones-as-healthy-as-non-vegetarians-re-issue_100181761.html
The article from Thaindian.com is excellent and once again points out that people who don’t eat meat and dairy have normal bones(normal mineralization of their osseous structures).
I am very glad to have started my vegan diet about 5 weeks ago. It has been a lot easier and tastier than I imagined, and after reading many studies about how animal-based products harm the body, I am very pleased I have made this choice. I wish more people could see how the American diet, high in fat and protein, is the cause of so many health problems, from heart disease, to diabetes, and osteoporosis, to chronic fatigue and pain, as well as malnutrition. Thank you for this wonderful information.