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Adherence to Mediterranean diet in relation to bone mineral density and risk of fracture: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

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Abstract

Purpose

We aimed to systematically review available data on the association between adherence to MD and BMD as well as risk of fractures and to summarize this information through a meta-analysis.

Methods

Previous studies in the field of adherence to MD in relation to BMD and risk of fracture were selected through searching PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science and Google Scholar databases prior to June, 2016 using Mesh and non-Mesh relevant keywords.

Results

In the meta-analysis of four effect sizes, obtained from three studies, we found that adherence to MD was associated with a 21% reduced risk of hip fracture (overall RR 0.79; 95% CIs 0.72–0.87). Adherence to MD was positively associated with lumber spine’s (mean difference of BMD comparing highest and lowest categories of MD score 0.12; 95% CI 0.06–0.19 g/cm2), femoral neck (0.10; 0.06–0.15 g/cm2) and total hip (0.11; 0.09–0.14 g/cm2) BMD. Meta-regression of included observational studies revealed a significant inverse linear association between Mediterranean diet score and risk of hip fracture, such that one unit increase in the score of Mediterranean diet was associated with a reduction in the risk of hip fracture (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92–0.98 p = 0.01).

Conclusion

Adherence to MD was associated with a reduced risk of fracture as well as with a higher mean BMD.

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Abbreviations

MD:

Mediterranean diet

BMD:

Bone mineral density

HR:

Hazard ratio

RR:

Relative risk

CI:

Confidence interval

SD:

Standard deviation

SE:

Standard error

MeSH:

Medical Subjects Headings, tiab: title and abstract

US:

United State

NOS:

Newcastle–Ottawa Scale

FFQ:

Food Frequency Questionnaire

KIDMED:

Mediterranean Diet Quality Index in children and adolescents

DXA:

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

CVD:

Cardiovascular disease

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Acknowledgements

The project was financially supported by a joint collaboration of Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran as well as by the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Students’ Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Hanieh Malmir

  2. Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Parvane Saneei

  3. Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 14114-13137, Tehran, Iran

    Bagher Larijani

  4. Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Ahmad Esmaillzadeh

  5. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 14155-6117, Tehran, Iran

    Hanieh Malmir & Ahmad Esmaillzadeh

  6. Food Security Research Center, Department of Community Nutrition, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Ahmad Esmaillzadeh

Authors
  1. Hanieh Malmir
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  2. Parvane Saneei
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  4. Ahmad Esmaillzadeh
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Contributions

HM, PS, BL and AE contributed in conception, design, statistical analyses, data interpretation and manuscript drafting. All authors approved the final manuscript for submission.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Bagher Larijani or Ahmad Esmaillzadeh.

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Funding

The project was financially supported by a joint collaboration of Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran as well as by the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF).

Conflict of interest

Hanieh Malmir, Parvane Saneei, Bagher Larijani and Ahmad Esmaillzadeh declared that they have no conflict of interest.

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Malmir, H., Saneei, P., Larijani, B. et al. Adherence to Mediterranean diet in relation to bone mineral density and risk of fracture: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Eur J Nutr 57, 2147–2160 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-017-1490-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-017-1490-3

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