Deer studies in Spain are turning around theories of why we get brittle bones and other types of conditions that impact on our wellness, like Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s. The theory from a Spanish university looks at how our wellbeing is affected by an important mineral called manganese.
Which came first?
Until recently, many researchers thought that osteoporosis resulted from a deficit in the amount of calcium in our bodies, which is why those of us at risk of the condition are advised to take it daily. But the new theory from the University of Castilla-La Mancha indicates that brittle bones may be caused by a lack of manganese in our diets, which then affects how we absorb calcium. So even if we include the recommended daily amounts of calcium in our diets, without manganese the bone-building nutrient may not even reach our bones.
Deers and Bones
The researchers arrived at their conclusion after noticing that deers in the country suffered more broken antlers following a spell of bad weather that limited their dietary intake of manganese. This inspired the experts to highlight the effect manganese has on the bones of humans. They are calling for rigorous clinical trials to establish whether their theory is true. The researchers explain that when it comes to our bodily processes that require manganese, bones are not the main priority. If the brain needs the mineral then it goes there rather than our skeleton, so a deficit over time means we could be at risk of getting osteoporosis.
Manganese and other conditions
As well as being important for our bone wellness, the researchers also highlight how it might be linked to syndromes that affect our cognition. They reveal that in a separate study, data from people undergoing surgery for brittle bones showed that up to 40 per cent of them also had some kind of cognitive issues, like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. This indicates that manganese may have been re-directed from the bones to the brain because of a bodily deficit in the mineral, potentially showing a connection between mineral depletion and cognitive processes. The experts explain that more research is needed to find out if these links are scientifically-based, which could give us more treatment options if this is proved to be the case.
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