Olive Oil and Bones

Olive Oil and Bones: Olive oil is a fatty oil obtained from the olive, a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. A study to be published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism shows consumption of a Mediterranean diet enriched with olive oil for two years is associated with increased serum osteocalcin concentrations, suggesting a protective effect on bone. Studies have shown that the incidence of osteoporosis in Europe is lower in the Mediterranean basin. The traditional Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, with a high intake of olives and olive oil could be one of the environmental factors underlying this difference.