Living in certain areas 'could reduce risk of serious condition'

06 March 2024 , 15:16

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A man jogs through a park [file image] (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

People living in green, leafy areas may have a smaller chance of getting a serious condition that makes bones weak and easy to break, says a new study.

Osteoporosis can make your bones fragile and more likely to fracture. The study found that people who live in greener places have stronger bones and are less likely to get it. The scientists think this might be because there's less air pollution in green areas. But they point out that osteoporosis is a "complex disease" which is caused by both genetic and environmental factors.

The study looked at data from nearly 400,000 people in the UK Biobank study. This long-term study measures how much green space people have where they live using satellite pictures. It also looks at whether people get certain diseases like osteoporosis and how dense their bones are. The researchers also considered people's genetic risk scores.

The study involved people with an average age of 56, who were tracked for about 12 years. During this time, 9,307 participants were diagnosed with osteoporosis. The research showed that those living in greener areas had "increased bone strength" and were less likely to get osteoporosis.

The researchers from Central South University in Changsha, China, wrote: "Our study employed a large nationwide prospective cohort study to examine the association between residential greenness and bone health," They added: "The findings from this study present the first evidence indicating that residential greenness is associated with higher BMD and a decreased risk of developing osteoporosis."

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They explained that the link between greenness and osteoporosis was "partially mediated by air pollution". Past studies have shown that exposure to air pollution can harm bones through vitamin D deficiency, hormone disruption, inflammation and "oxidative stress".

The team also noted that people living in greener areas have more chances to exercise, which could help lower their risk of getting osteoporosis. The authors observed that the effects of greenness on osteoporosis seemed to be more noticeable in individuals with low genetic risk.

Sarah Leyland, a clinical advisor at the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS), said about the study: "The ROS welcomes research such as this that explores the potential relationship between our environment and risks of osteoporosis and fractures problems set to increase dramatically with our ageing population. Sadly, this study doesn't provide any conclusive evidence that green spaces improve bone health."

"But access to open spaces to keep active and exercise will certainly help ensure we build and keep strong bones throughout our lives."

Rom Preston-Ellis