CR May Provide Some Protection Against Loss of Bone Quality and Bone Density

Following are excerpts and references from animal studies of the effects of CR on bone quality and density. In all cases the original paper should be read for a full understanding of what was being studied and what could be concluded.

Animal Studies

1. Title: "Effects of aging and caloric restriction on bone structure and mechanical properties."

   J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2008 Nov;63(11):1131-6.; Westerbeek ZW, Hepple RT, Zernicke RF.

   PMID: 19038827 [PubMed - in process]

   "This study examined the effects of caloric restriction on structural and material properties of tibiae and sixth lumbar vertebrae in F344BN male rats...A calorically restricted diet resulted in a significant decrease in total body mass when compared to ad libitum diet. Generally, direct comparisons between same-aged groups showed no significant changes in material properties, with significantly greater normalized-to-body-mass structural properties under caloric restriction. These results suggested a possible beneficial response to the calorically restricted diet where bone quality was maintained with bone quantity improved per unit body mass."

2. Title: "Dietary restriction does not adversely affect bone geometry and mechanics in rapidly growing male wistar rats."

   Pediatr Res. 2005 Feb;57(2):227-31. Epub 2004 Dec 7.; Lambert J, Lamothe JM, Zernicke RF, Auer RN, Reimer RA.

   PMID: 15585686 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

   "The present study assessed the effects of dietary restriction on tibial and vertebral mechanical and geometrical properties in 2-mo-old male Wistar rats....The DR group had significantly lower mean tibial length, mass, area, and cross-sectional moment of inertia, as well as vertebral energy to maximal load. After adjustment for body mass, however, DR tibial mean maximal load and stiffness, and DR vertebral area, height, volume, and maximal load were significantly greater, relative to ad libitum means...Importantly, we show that a level of dietary restriction (35%) that is less severe than many studies (40%), and without micronutrient compensation does not adversely affect tibial and vertebral mechanical properties in young growing male rats when normalized for body mass."

Return to top of page
Return to CR Home Page