BMC Public Health. 2013 Jan 10;13:23. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-23.
Midlife women, bone health, vegetables, herbs and fruit study. The Scarborough Fair study protocol.
Gunn CA, Weber JL, Kruger MC.
Source
Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University, Private Bag
11222, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand. c.a.gunn@massey.ac.nz
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Bone loss is accelerated in middle aged women but increased fruit/vegetable
intake positively affects bone health by provision of micronutrients essential
for bone formation, buffer precursors which reduce acid load and phytochemicals
affecting inflammation and oxidative stress. Animal studies demonstrated bone
resorption inhibiting properties of specific vegetables, fruit and herbs a
decade ago.Objective: To increase fruit/vegetable intake in post menopausal
women to 9 servings/day using a food specific approach to significantly reduce
dietary acid load and include specific vegetables, fruit and herbs with bone
resorbing inhibiting properties to assess effect on bone turnover, metabolic and
inflammatory markers.
METHODS/DESIGN:
The Scarborough Fair Study is a randomised active comparator controlled multi
centre trial. It aimed to increase fruit and vegetable intake in 100 post
menopausal women from <= 5 servings/day to >= 9 servings/day for 3 months. The
women in the dietary intervention were randomly assigned to one of the two arms
of the study. Both groups consumed >= 9 servings/day of fruit/vegetables and
selected herbs but the diet of each group emphasised different fruit/vegetables/herbs
with one group (B) selecting from a range of vegetables, fruit and culinary
herbs with bone resorbing inhibiting properties. 50 women formed a negative
control group (Group C usual diet). Primary outcome variables were plasma bone
markers assessed at baseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks. Secondary outcome variables
were plasma inflammation and metabolic markers and urinary electrolytes (calcium,
magnesium, potassium and sodium) assessed at baseline and 12 weeks. Dietary
intake and urine pH change also were outcome variables. The dietary change was
calculated with 3 day diet diaries and a 24 hour recall. Intervention
participants kept a twice weekly record of fruit, vegetable and herb intake and
urine pH.
DISCUSSION:
This study will provide information on midlife women's bone health and how a
dietary intervention increasing fruit and vegetable/herb intake affects bone,
inflammatory and metabolic markers and urinary electrolyte excretion. It
assesses changes in nutrient intake, estimated dietary acid load and sodium:
potassium ratios. The study also explores whether specific fruit/vegetables and
herbs with bone resorbing properties has an effect on bone markers.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: ACTRN 12611000763943.
PMID: 23305630 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
PMCID: PMC3552690