Six months of supplementation with DSM’s geniVida bone blend maintained bone mineral density (BMD) in thigh bone of postmenopausal women, while women in the placebo group displayed a reduction in BMD, according to findings published in the European Journal of Nutrition.
“The results of this pilot study suggest that the use of the physiological relevant dose of genistein in combination with EPA and DHA and vitamins D3 and K1 may help to prevent osteoporosis and may reduce fracture risk, at least at the hip, in postmenopausal women,” wrote researchers from Creighton University and DSM Nutritional Products.
“The results are also reassuring about the safety of this product.”
Bone health
The study’s findings have implications for the increasing number of women at risk of osteoporosis, characterized by low bone mass, which leads to an increase risk of fractures, especially the hips, spine and wrists. An estimated 75 million people suffer from osteoporosis in Europe, the USA and Japan.
Women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men.
The study's findings were described as "exceptional" by Kevin Prudence, geniVida global business manager, DSM Nutritional Products.
"This study provides evidence of the health benefits provided by geniVida bone blend (GBB) to address bone mineral density, a multi-factorial health issue," Prudence told NutraIngredients-USA.com.
"It is exceptional to have measurable and significant improvements, within only 6 months, using this multi-nutrient solution. The new findings complement previous data demonstrating menopause symptom (hot flush) relief for post-menopausal women supplementing with geniVida genistein.”
Study details
Seventy women with an average age of 55 participated in the pilot study, and were randomly assigned to receive placebo or the geniVida blend for six months. Daily doses of the bone blend’s nutrients were 30 milligrams of genistein, 800 IU of vitamin D3, 150 micrograms of vitamin K1, and one gram of polyunsaturated fatty acids with an EPA to DHA ratio of 2 to 1.
Results indicated a maintenance of BMD in the femoral neck in the bone blend group (+ 0.1%), compared with a 1.2% decrease in the placebo group.
The bone blend group also experienced a 2.3% increase in BMD at the Ward’s triangle part of the hip bone, compared with a 1.1% decrease in the placebo group for the same site.
Biochemical markers of bone health, such as alkaline phosphatase and N-telopeptide, were found to be significantly increased in the geniVida group, compared with levels at the start of the study, and final levels in the placebo group.
“Because a combination of ingredients was used, it is not possible to determine to what extent the individual components contained in the [geniVida bone blend] contributed to the observed skeletal benefits,” wrote the researchers.
Source: European Journal of Nutrition
Published online ahead of print, Online First, doi: 10.1007/s00394-012-0304-
“Effect of a combination of genistein, polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamins D3 and K1 on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot study”
Authors: J. Lappe, I. Kunz, I. Bendik, K. Prudence, P. Weber, R. Recker, R.P. Heaney