Study suggests blackcurrant supplementation mitigates postmenopausal bone loss

Medical Xpress / University of Connecticut / Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry ^ | Sept. 16, 2024 | Anna Zarra Aldrich / Nosal, B. M. et al

[ConservativeMind]

As we age, our bones lose density and become more fragile, putting us in danger of breaks and fractures. This is especially a concern among post-menopausal women.

Ock Chun has been working with blackcurrant.

This study showed that the best time for intervention was in the transition between pre- and post-menopause before bone loss has significantly progressed.

Forty peri- and early post-menopausal participants between the ages of 45 and 60 took capsules of blackcurrant powder daily for six months. Participants were randomly assigned to either take one capsule, two capsules, or a placebo. Each capsule was 392 milligrams.

The researchers found that the supplements prevented the loss of whole-body bone mineral density. The group that took two capsules actually showed overall increases in bone mineral density at the end of the six-month trial period.

The researchers looked at changes to the gut microbiome and immune system, which interact to play a key role in bone metabolism.

They found that the blackcurrant supplements decreased levels of proteins called interleukin-1 beta and RANKL. Interleukin-1 beta stimulates the expression of RANKL which causes bone resorption and thus a decrease in bone density.

This study showed that the decrease in RANKL was directly correlated with an increase in whole body bone density after six months.

Taking the supplements also increased a bacteria found in the gut microbiome called Ruminococcus 2. This led the researchers to infer that it could be one of the bacteria driving the protective effects blackcurrant has on bones.

While medications for osteoporosis do exist, compliance is low due to side effects.

If blackcurrant supplements can improve bone density without the same side effects, it could prove an effective alternative for this population.

"This study shows blackcurrant may be a potential dietary strategy to help in preventing post-menopausal osteoporosis," Nosal says.

[ConservativeMind]

Black currant is a berry bush available in the US, but is also available in powder and extract form. I have been taking black currant extract (200 mg) for a while and I planted four black currant bushes some years back.

This study showed that in just six months, women between 45 and 60 were able to actually increase bone density, without added calcium.

The actual amount of increase is behind a paywall, but the cost is low and it beats the drug they typically give women to build bones.

[ConservativeMind]

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[steve86]

Sent link to my gf.

[sauropod]

Bkmk

[Colt1851Navy]

Thought they were talking about a bird for a minute there.

[Doctor Congo]

Black currants have the highest amount of vitamin C that I know of, way way more than an orange.