Is Sugar Bad For Bone Health?

While salt is often on the naughty list for osteoporosis patients, a review from Missouri Medicine points to another culprit: sugar.

This review compiled the data and insights from over 75 studies on sugar and osteoporosis. This was in order to understand the effect sugar has on bones and the body. The major finding from their research is that sugar lowers bone density and quality. One specific study they reviewed showed that drinking soda, for example, decreases bone strength and increases the risk of bone fractures by 1.7 times.

Why is this the case? Salt is often categorized as something to be avoided because it leads to higher excretion of calcium from the body. As this article indicates, sugar can have the same effect.

Here are a few other effects sugar has on the body:

• Increases calcium and magnesium excretion from the body
• Decreases the amount of calcium the digestive system can absorb
• Increases the activity of cells that break down bone
• Decreases the activity of cells that build bone

Getting the right nutrients for your body can sometimes feel daunting. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about what is right for you.

If you are interested in learning more, check out our Well Guide articles, Sugar and Bone Health.