Eating a vegetarian diet might increase the risk of hip fracture in women. In a new study published in the journal BMC Medicine, researchers at the University of Leeds in England followed over 26,000 middle-aged women for approximately 20 years. They compared the risk of hip fracture among vegetarians, pescatarians, or people who eat fish but not meat, and occasional meat-eaters compared to regular meat-eaters. About 3 percent of the women suffered a hip fracture in those 20 years. The researchers found an elevated risk of hip fracture only among the vegetarian women. They stress that a healthy vegetarian diet can still be a great option for many women, but it’s important to ensure that women get protein and nutrients that optimize bone health, like calcium, in their diets or through supplements.
Podcast (better-than-ever-daily): Play in new window | Download