Dairy good way to not fall over

IT is the most common cause of injury among the elderly, but an extra serve of dairy each day can dramatically reduce the chance of having a fall in older adults.

New research led by University of Melbourne and Austin Health has found that elderly adults who eat 3.5 serves of dairy daily have a 33 per cent lower chance of any type of fracture, a 46 per cent lower risk of hip fractures and 11 per cent reduction in falls.

Lead researcher Sandra Iuliano said the results of the two-year trial among almost 7200 aged-care residents across 60 Victorian homes showed boosting dairy intake was a cheap and accessible way of reducing a significant cause of injury in vulnerable older adults.

The rate of fractures decreased five months after the study started and falls reduced three months in.

“The significance is huge. For less than a dollar a day we reduced falls and fractures in the residents by increasing their calcium and protein,” Dr Iuliano said.

“And we did this with milk, cheese and yoghurt from the supermarket.

“It was just about how to incorporate it into the menu so the residents enjoy it.”

The study also found that bone loss slowed among those who ate the 3.5 daily dairy servings, and they maintained their weight and muscle mass over the two years.

The control group, which ate their usual diet, continued to experience gradual bone density loss, fat mass loss and muscle loss from their arms and legs.

“That’s their independence that they’re losing,” said Dr Iuliano. “If they’re losing leg muscles, they’re losing strength and therefore less able to move around. This can help them live better in the years they’ve got.”

The findings will be published on Thursday in the British Medical Journal.