Evidence-Based Nutrient Recommendations
Evidence-Based Nutrient Recommendations

Bone Health – Draft

Published
Table 1. Fracture Rates of Vegans Compared to Meat-Eaters
Study Vegans (women / men) Follow-up Fractures (cases in vegans) Vegans vs. meat-eaters Meets our criteria?
EPIC-Oxford, U.K. (Tong, 2020) 1,982 (1,266 / 716) 17.6 years (average) Hip; hospital records (41) HR 2.64 (1.90-3.67)
Adjusted for BMI: HR 2.31 (1.66-3.22)		 Yes
EPIC-Oxford, U.K. (Tong, 2020) 1,982 (1,266 / 716) 17.6 years (average) All; hospital records (147) HR 1.50 (1.26-1.78)
Adjusted for BMI: HR 1.43 (1.20-1.70)		 No: effect too small
Adventist Health Study-2, U.S. and Canada (Thorpe, 2021) 2,832 (1,465 / 1,367) 8.4 years (median) Hip; self-reported (64) All: HR 1.31 (0.97-1.78)
Women: HR 1.55 (1.06-2.26)
Men: HR 1.01 (0.61-1.68)		 No: no analysis adjusted for lifestyle factors without also adjusting for calcium and vitamin D intake; women’s result too small
UK Women’s Cohort Study (Webster, 2022) 130 (all women) 22.3 years (median) Hip; hospital records (5) Vegetarians and vegans combined: HR 1.33 (1.03-1.71)
Vegans alone (5 cases): HR 1.10 (0.42-2.84)		 No: effect too small; vegan result exploratory
UK Biobank (Webster, 2023) 400 (not reported) 12.5 years (median) Hip; hospital records (10) Vegetarians and vegans combined: HR 1.50 (1.18-1.91)
Vegans alone (10 cases): HR 3.26 (1.75-6.08)		 No: effect too small; vegan result exploratory
Buddhist nuns, Vietnam (Ho-Pham, 2012) 88 (all women) 2 years New spinal fractures; X-ray (5) RR 1.02 (0.54-1.92) No: comparison not adjusted for other factors; small study

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  • Our nutrient recommendations are only estimates—it’s not necessary to consume the exact amount we recommend every single day.
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