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Review
. 2018 May-Jun;115(3):247-252.

Not Salt But Sugar As Aetiological In Osteoporosis: A Review

James J DiNicolantonio  1 , Varshil Mehta  2 , Sojib Bin Zaman  3 , James H O'Keefe  4
Affiliations
Review

Not Salt But Sugar As Aetiological In Osteoporosis: A Review

James J DiNicolantonio et al. Mo Med. 2018 May-Jun.

Abstract

Salt has notoriously been blamed for causing an increase in the urinary excretion of calcium, and thus is a considered a risk factor for osteoporosis. However, the increase in the urinary excretion of calcium with higher sodium intakes can be offset by the increased intestinal absorption of dietary calcium. Thus, the overall calcium balance does not appear to be reduced with a higher sodium intake. However, the other ubiquitous white crystal, sugar, may lead to osteoporosis by increasing inflammation, hyperinsulinemia, increased renal acid load, reduced calcium intake, and increased urinary calcium excretion. Sugar, not salt, is the more likely white crystal to be a risk factor for osteoporosis when overconsumed.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Possible mechanisms for how an overconsumption of sugar may cause osteoporosis.
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