Low back pain This cheese provides a strong back and protects against osteoporosis

Can protect cheese from osteoporosis?

Many people today suffer from back pain. Physicians and experts have long been looking for easy ways to protect people from back pain or to reduce the pain already occurring. Researchers have now discovered that eating cheese can protect against osteoporosis and back pain, but only men benefit from this protective effect.

The scientists from the Institute for Aging Research at Harvard Medical School in Boston found in their current study that eating cheese can protect men from back pain and osteoporosis, but this protective effect does not seem to apply to women.

Many people like the taste of cheese. But cheese not only tastes good, it also seems to protect men from osteoporosis. (Image: gkrphoto / fotolia.com)

Experts examined more than 2,500 subjects

Dairy products are the best source of nutrition for bone enhancing calcium. So it's not surprising that cheese is good for our bones. However, cheese only seems to protect the bones of men. The physicians came to this conclusion in the investigation of a total of 1,522 men and 1,104 women. The protective effect was unfortunately not found in women. However women are generally more susceptible to brittle bones (osteoporosis). The study participants were between the ages of 32 and 81 years.

Care of older men can be improved

The findings could lead to better care for older men, even though those affected are already suffering from osteoporosis and back pain, say the experts. Osteoporosis weakens the bones and increases the risk of fracture.

Bone density was measured

The subjects were examined with the help of so-called quantitative computed tomography. It was especially the bone density in the lower back and measured in the hips, say the experts. The results of the study highlight the positive role of a combination of dairy bone health products, said Professor Shivani Sahni of Harvard Medical School in a press release. This positive association is independent of a person's serum vitamin D status.

What caused the consumption of cheese?

In men, increased intake of milk, yogurt and cheese was associated with higher bone mineral density, says Professor Sahni. In addition, a higher cheese intake was associated with a larger cross-sectional area. The effects seemed to be somewhat stronger in older men.

Protective effect is not present in women

In women, no significant results were observed from the intake of dairy products except for a positive association in cross-sectional area, adds Sahni. Women are four times more likely to suffer from osteoporosis because of their loss of bone augmenting hormone. (As)