Stronger bones thanks to Omega 3 DHA

Increasing the intake of Omega 3 fatty acids Omega 3 could boost bone mineral content and help the body produce a stronger and healthier skeleton. In particular, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) appears to have the greatest benefits for bone health. This suggestion comes from the British Journal of Nutrition, which published a study reporting DHA as a vital component of bone marrow. The research is the result of a collaboration between scientists from Purdue University (West Lafayette, USA), Indiana University School of Medicine (Indianapolis, USA), Korea Maritime University (Yeongdo-gu, South Korea), and the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Clues from rat bones

Led by Bruce Watkins from Purdue University, the scientists reached this conclusion through a series of experiments conducted on rats. The animals involved were raised to be deficient in Omega-3. Two days after birth, the pups were separated from their mothers and artificially fed milk containing linoleic acid and varying concentrations of fatty acids. One group received 1% DHA, another received Omega-6 DPA (docosapentaenoic acid), and a third group received a mixture of 1% DHA and 0.4% DPA. The remaining pups received milk with only linoleic acid. Finally, a control group was raised by their mothers, who fed them a diet containing 3.1% alpha-linolenic acid, the precursor of Omega-3s. After weaning, all rats were fed the same food. Once adult, the researchers analyzed the bone mineral density of the femur, tibia, and lumbar vertebrae using a sophisticated X-ray-based technique.

DHA, an irreplaceable element

The researchers found that bone mineral concentration depends on both DHA and total Omega-3 fatty acid levels. Rats fed DPA had the lowest mineral content and mineral density in long bones such as the femur and tibia. At the same time, these rats showed the highest DPA content in their bones. The authors concluded that DPA alone cannot compensate for DHA deficiency to ensure adequate mineral content in long bones. This suggests a fundamental role for this Omega-3 fatty acid in bone health.

The role of Omega-3 in bones

The researchers explain that DHA accumulates in the femur at the periosteum, the outer layer covering the bones. Conversely, the other important Omega-3, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), does not appear to be a vital component of the marrow or periosteum in developing bones.  

Source 

1. Li Y, Seifert MF, Lim SY, Salem N Jr, Watkins BA, “Bone mineral content is positively correlated to n-3 fatty acids in the femur of growing rats”, Br J Nutr. 2010 Sep;104(5):674-85. Epub 2010 Apr 27