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Effect of periodic abstinence from dairy products for approximately half of the year on bone health in adults following the Christian Orthodox Church fasting rules for decades

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A Correction to this article was published on 14 November 2019

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Abstract

Summary

Christian Orthodox Church (COC) fasting is characterized by periodic abstinence from animal foods (including dairy products). We found that, despite this, older individuals adhering to COC fasting for decades did not differ in bone mineral density, bone mineral content, or prevalence of osteoporosis at five sites from non-fasting controls.

Purpose

The present observational study investigated whether adherence to COC fasting, characterized by periodic abstinence from animal foods (including dairy products), affects bone health and the prevalence of osteoporosis in older individuals.

Methods

Participants were 200 men and women, of whom 100 had been following the fasting rules of the COC for a median of 31 years and 100 were non-fasters, all aged 50 to 78 years. Participants underwent measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) at the lumbar spine, right hip, left hip, right femoral neck, and left femoral neck; completed a 3-day food intake record and food frequency questionnaire; and provided blood samples for biochemical measurements.

Results

Fasters did not differ from non-fasters in demographic characteristics, anthropometric measures, BMD, BMC, or prevalence of osteopenia or osteoporosis at any of the five sites measured (P > 0.05). Fasters had lower daily calcium intake than non-fasters (median 532 vs 659 mg, P = 0.010), daily protein intake (0.67 vs 0.71 g/kg, P = 0.028), and consumption of dairy and soy products (10.3 vs 15.3 servings per week, P < 0.001). Groups did not differ in serum calcium, vitamin D, or urea concentrations.

Conclusions

Despite lower calcium intake and lower consumption of dairy and soy products, older individuals adhering to COC fasting did not differ in BMD, BMC, or prevalence of osteoporosis from controls. Thus, periodic abstinence from dairy and, generally, animal products does not seem to compromise bone health in older individuals.

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Change history

  • 14 November 2019

    The original version of this article, published on 27 June 2019, unfortunately contained a mistake.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Metropolitan Varnavas of Neapolis and Stavroupolis, Thessaloniki; Metropolitan Georgios of Kitros, Katerini, and Platamon; Hieromonk Father Luke Kipouros of Holy Trinity Monastery, Panorama, Thessaloniki; Professor Emeritus of the School of Theology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Dimitrios Tselegidis; Archimandrite Nikodemos Skrettas-Plexidas; and Archpriest and Professor of the School of Pastoral and Social Theology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Athanasios Gikas for their help in collecting the study sample. We also thank Hieromonk Archimandrite Eulogios Tsalapatanis for information about COC fasting.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Nutrition, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece

    Nikolaos E. Rodopaios, Alexandra-Aikaterini Koulouri & Anthony G. Kafatos

  2. Laboratory of Evaluation of Human Biological Performance, School of Physical Education and Sport Science at Thessaloniki, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Vassilis Mougios

  3. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Alexander Technological and Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Sindos, Greece

    Anna Konstantinidou, Sousana K. Papadopoulou & Maria Hassapidou

  4. Department of Nutrition Science and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece

    Stelios Iosifidis

  5. Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Eleni Vasara

  6. Department of Medical Laboratory Studies, Alexander Technological and Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Sindos, Greece

    Petros Skepastianos

  7. Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland

    Emmanouil Dermitzakis

Authors
  1. Nikolaos E. Rodopaios
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  2. Vassilis Mougios
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  11. Anthony G. Kafatos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nikolaos E. Rodopaios.

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Ethics

The study protocol was approved by the Bioethics Committee of the Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, and the study was conducted according to the Declaration of the World Medical Association of Helsinki (1989). Each participant was informed about the aims, benefits, and potential risks of the study and signed a consent form before data collection and blood sampling.

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Rodopaios, N.E., Mougios, V., Konstantinidou, A. et al. Effect of periodic abstinence from dairy products for approximately half of the year on bone health in adults following the Christian Orthodox Church fasting rules for decades. Arch Osteoporos 14, 68 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11657-019-0625-y

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