-Anannya Roy, Amity University Kolkata
“2019 was declared as ‘The Year of the Vegan’ by The Economist”. Due to the obvious health benefits of the vegan diet, more and more people across the world are switching to this lifestyle. Over the years, research has demonstrated a wide range of health benefits- Be it weight loss, lowering the risk of heart disease, managing diabetes, and even eliminating chances of colon cancer.
A recent study, conducted by a team of scientists at the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), found out that a vegan diet could cause weaker bones. Veganism is a type of vegetarian diet that excludes meat, eggs, dairy products, and all animal-derived ingredients. Though this might be beneficial to heart and brain health, it is not at all good for our skeletal health. The reason being that the nutrients required for the growth and development of bones are not supplied to the body in adequate quantities.
In the study, an ultrasound of the heel bones of 36 vegans and 36 non-vegans was compared. It was found that the bones of vegans were unhealthier compared to the bones of non-vegans. A blood test revealed the levels of nutrients like lysine, vitamin A and B6 which are responsible for bone health were found below the par. Lysine is one of the essential amino acids that the body cannot make on its own and has to obtain from foods like meat, fish, dairy, eggs, etc. Eggs have an abundance of vitamin A while meat and fish supply vitamin B.
This study sheds some light on the fact that there are certain drawbacks to a vegan diet. Weak bones are detrimental because they increase the chances of fracture and bone dislocation. We as budding researchers must look for ways to overcome even the most complicated problems, find answers to the most difficult questions. Hence with the development of plant biotechnology and genetic engineering, we must look for ways to supplement vegans with the necessary nutrients for the sake of better healthcare and improved lifestyle.
Source:
1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349498795_Vegan_Diet_and_Bone_Health-Results_from_the_Cross-Sectional_RBVD_Study
2. Menzel, J.; Abraham, K.; Stangl, G.I.; Ueland, P.M.; Obeid, R.; Schulze, M.B.; Herter-Aeberli, I.; Schwerdtle, T.; Weikert, C. Vegan Diet and Bone Health—Results from the Cross-Sectional RBVD Study. Nutrients 2021, 13, 685. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13020685
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