Olive Polyphenols Stabilize Bone Mineral Density
A recently epublished study indicates that supplementation with olive polyphenols (Olea europaea) increases osteocalcin, stabilizes bone mineral density, and improves lipid profiles in post-menopausal women with decreased bone mass. The International Osteoporosis Foundation reports that 44 million individuals in the U.S. have osteoporosis or osteopenia (low bone mass), which represents 55 percent of Americans age 50 and older.
In the double-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers studied 64 osteopenic patients who had a mean bone mineral density (BMD) T-score between −1.5 and −2.5 in the lumbar spine (L2–L4). The researchers randomly assigned the subjects to receive 250 mg per day of olive extract and 1,000 mg calcium or 1,000 mg calcium alone as the control group for 12 months. The investigators evaluated markers of bone turnover including osteocalcin, BMD measurements, and lipid profiles.
The levels of the pro-osteoblastic (bone-building) marker osteocalcin were significantly increased in the olive extract group compared to the placebo group after 12 months of supplementation. Additionally, the investigators found that BMD decreased in the calcium alone group but remained stable in the olive extract plus calcium group. Also, the researchers showed that total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol significantly declined in the olive extract group.
The study authors concluded that olive polyphenol extract impacts serum osteocalcin levels and may stabilize lumbar spine BMD. Also, improvements in blood lipid profiles suggest additional health benefits with olive polyphenol extract intake.
Reference:
Filip R, et al. J Nutr Health Aging. 2014 Jul 5.
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