“Considerable” implications for Fonterra-backed study finding dairy may prevent fractures in elderly

26 Oct 2021 --- Increasing consumption of dairy products can help reduce falls and fractures in the elderly, paving the way in changing policy in care homes, according to a researcher behind a Fonterra-backed study.

“This study demonstrated a significant 46% reduction in hip fractures, which would have considerable implications for the public health system,” Caroline Gunn, senior research scientist at Fonterra research and development, New Zealand, tells NutritionInsight.

The study, published by The BMJ, purports to be one of the few studies examining whether getting nutrients such as calcium and protein from foods such as milk, yogurt and cheese, as opposed to supplements, is an effective and safe way to reduce fracture risk in older adults.

“These findings could have widespread implications as a public health measure for fracture prevention in the aged care setting,” according to the researchers based in Australia, the Netherlands and US.

“Increasing the number of dairy servings per day can be a low-cost option for all older people to prevent falls and all fractures and especially hip fractures,” Gunn adds.The findings propose an easy change to health policy, which currently costs NZ$195 million (US$140 million).

Dairy: a low-cost solution?
Currently, New Zealand’s accident compensation scheme, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), accepts around 155,000 claims for falls and fracture-related injuries for people aged 65 and above, Gunn states.

“These injuries cost NZ$195 million (US$140 million) to help people recover. This represents a 47% increase since 2013,” she adds. 

“A hip fracture with complications, followed by discharge to an aged residential care facility costs NZ$135,000 (US$97,000),” Gunn notes.

The results showed that elderly people who increased consumption of dairy products were found to have a 33% reduced risk for all fractures, 46% for hip fractures and 11% for falls.

Increasing calcium and protein intake using dairy foods “is a readily accessible intervention that reduces the risk of falls and fractures commonly occurring in institutionalized older adults,” the study notes.

Fortified drinks could have similar effects
Elderly people living in residential care often have low calcium and protein intake, which can lead to weak bones and an increase in the risk of falls and fractures, the researchers outline. It is estimated that older adults in aged care are the source of about 30% of all hip fractures.

Asked what these findings could mean for the supplement industry, Gunn notes: “Fortified dairy drinks or shots are very likely to have the same or enhanced effects as shown in this study.”

Commenting on the drive toward plant-based products, Gunn says, “there is no evidence any plant-based products are associated with lowered falls risk, hip fracture or any fractures.” 

Dairy drive
Increasing consumption of dairy products such as yogurt, milk and cheese, could reduce fractures in the elderly by 33%.A total of 7,195 residents across 60 aged care facilities in Australia were involved in the study, which spanned two years.

Individuals replete in vitamin D but with calcium and protein levels below recommended levels were provided with additional milk, yogurt and cheese. Their daily intake amounted to 1,142 mg of calcium and 1.1 g of protein per kg of body weight.

The results were compared with the control group, which continued with their usual menu, comprised of 700 mg of calcium per day and 0.9 kg of protein per kg of bodyweight daily.

Funding for the study came from the National Dairy Council, Aarhus University Hospital and Danish Dairy Research Foundation, Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd, Dutch Dairy Association, Dairy Council of California, Centre national interprofessionnel de l’economie laitiere, Austin Hospital Medical Research Foundation and Sir Edward Dunlop Medical Research Foundation.

Fonterra has long been engaged in this space, with its B2B dairy ingredients brand NZMP recently conducting research to build strategies against malnutrition in seniors. The company estimates 20% of seniors do not have access to a proper diet and thus revealed the PROMISS project, which stands for Prevention Of Malnutrition In Senior Subjects in the EU.

Meanwhile, Arla Foods Ingredients previously launched a “Healthy Through Life” dairy concept to help manufacturers capitalize on the 40 to 60-year-old healthy aging demographic.

Dairy ingredients have also seen high demand during the COVID-19 pandemic for overall health and wellness, with suppliers noting potential in plant-based and dairy hybrids.  

By Andria Kades