Blackcurrant supplementation has emerged as a promising strategy for preventing bone loss in postmenopausal women. A study highlights that anthocyanins, compounds found in blackcurrants and other berries, have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce bone resorption while enhancing calcium absorption—critical factors in maintaining bone mineral density.
The research, presented in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, found that blackcurrant supplementation improved gut health by influencing the gut-bone axis, which plays a critical role in calcium metabolism. The enhanced calcium absorption from the gut improved the bone density in participants over the 12-month study period. This is particularly relevant for postmenopausal women who are at higher risk of osteoporosis due to declining estrogen levels.
The study revealed, moreover, that women who took blackcurrant supplements had lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are known to accelerate bone loss. By reducing systemic inflammation, blackcurrants help protect against the chronic inflammation that contributes to bone degradation in postmenopausal women.
The results suggest that blackcurrant supplements could serve as a natural alternative or complementary treatment to conventional osteoporosis medications. By targeting both gut health and bone metabolism, blackcurrants offer a holistic approach to preventing bone loss in aging women.
Sources:
Aldrich AZ. University of Connecticut. Blackcurrant supplementing mitigates postmenopausal bone loss. UConn News. September 2024.
Nosal BM et al. Blackcurrants shape gut microbiota profile and reduce risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis via the gut-bone axis: Evidence from a pilot randomized controlled trial. J Nutr Biochem. 2024;133:109701.
