Eating Fish Builds Strong Bones

Yet another thing eating fish is good for: your bones. The Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter reports that scientists from Tufts, Northeastern and Boston University studied data from the Framingham Osteoporosis Study following 623 older adults (average age 75) over 4 years. In general, those with the highest fish intake (3 or more weekly servings), especially darker-fleshed fish and tuna, had lower loss of bone density. Higher intakes of the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish (EPA and DHA) were associated with better maintenance of bone density, especially when combined with an omega-6 fatty acid (arichidonic acid, or AA) also found in fish. High intakes of AA, however, appeared to be protective only in combination with plenty of omega-3s.