Olive oil Osteoporosis, Osteopenia protection

Olive Oil Osteoporosis, Osteopenia protection has been the subject of recent research. The oil from Olives has long been associated with cardiovascular benefits but recent research is showing that it may also be protective of bone density.

There are a number of studies on this topic:

  •  In 2011 Researchers at the Faculty of Medicine in Ain shams University, Egypt researchers found that: "Olive Oil effectively mitigates ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in rats" Nermine K Saleh and Hanan A Saleh Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Physiology Department, Egypt. 
  •  In 2012 the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism published: "A Mediterranean Diet Enriched with Olive Oil Is Associated with Higher Serum Total Osteocalcin Levels in Elderly Men at High Cardiovascular Risk" by José Manuel Fernández-Real, Mónica Bulló, [...], and Jordi Salas-Salvadó. This article said, in part, that the "Consumption of a Mediterranean diet enriched with virgin olive oil for 2 years is associated with increased serum osteocalcin and P1NP concentrations".  (Note: Osteocalcin is central to bone building and that is the reason why we can rely on Olive oil Osteoporosis Osteopenia protection.
  •  In 2013   Diets Based on Virgin Olive Oil or Fish Oil but Not on Sunflower Oil Prevent Age-Related Alveolar Bone Resorption by Mitochondrial-Related Mechanism was authored by Pedro Bullon, Maurizio Battino, [...], and José L. Quiles and published by PLoS ONE.  This is an important study because it showed that not all 'good oils' have positive bone building effects.  Only two: Offered Fish oil and Olive Oil Osteoporosis Osteopenia protection .

Need to be clear: what it can and can not do.

We need to be clear about what Olive Oil can do. The articles give no evidence that Olive oil can reverse bone loss once it has occurred.  Olive oil does not reverse bone loss BUT it appears to be a potent ally in preventing  bone loss from happening in the first place....and in preventing additional bone loss if you already have Osteopenia or Osteoporosis. 

So why not switch to Olive oil for your salads....or even use it as a 'dipping sauce' as many of the finer Italian restaurants do.  For myself, I like the  flakes of hot red pepper floating on top of dipping sauces. And ALL the better Italian restaurants used fresh pressed olive oil in their cooking and on their salads.  Its widespread use is one of the reasons why the Mediterranean diet has been shown to be one of the healthiest  eating patterns in the world.

TIP: If you are going to buy olive oil be sure to purchase FIRST PRESSED - extra virgin olive oil.  You may pay a few cents more but it is more than worth it.

SPECIAL NOTE:  While it is clear that the oil does not, of itself, build bone there is research that shows Olive leaf can build bone and anyone with Osteopenia or Osteoporosis should consider learning more about Olive leaf, a powerful bone building supplement.

Read about other Natural treatments that build bone   

And remember that IF YOU KNOW THE CAUSES of your Osteopenia or Osteoporosis, you will be in a much better place for increasing your bone density.  Remember it is seldom that age is the only cause of bone loss....especially if you are younger than age 89.

Click on Causes of bone loss