Can vitamin C ward off bone disease?
The crippling bone disease osteoporosis may be held at bay by vitamin C, scientists have revealed. In a major breakthrough, they have discovered it could be used instead of hormone replacement therapy to prevent bone loss. Initial experiments in mice showed bone loss was entirely preventable by giving them 20g of vitamin C a day. After the menopause, women face an increased risk of bone thinning due to falls in the hormone oestrogen. One in three women over 50 suffers osteoporosis and many of the 1.7 million UK women on HRT, which contains synthetic oestrogen, are taking it to help ward off the disease. But an alternative is needed after a British study found HRT could increase the risk of breast cancer. Researchers from St George’s Hospital Medical School in London have discovered that oestrogen protects the bones because it causes them to manufacture antioxidants. Antioxidants – which include vitamin C – “mop up” harmful substances caused by ageing which lead to bone loss. A team led
