Powder from nopal cactus does not reduce osteoporosis says small study

bone health supplement, cactus osteoporosis, nopal health benefits, arthritis digestThe nopal cactus is high in levels of antioxidants and people take it for a variety of health-related reasons. New research in the Journal of Food Medicine suggests that women looking to improve their bone health should look elsewhere, however.

Calcium is important for preventing osteoporosis and bone disease. The calcium content of the nopal cactus from Mexico increases as it matures, and a research group wondered if it could have a positive impact on bone mineral density.

So they took some mature nopal and looked at the exact nutritional content before asking 56 women aged 40–60 years old to take a 5g dose every day for 24 weeks. They were compared with 13 women of the same age who did not take the supplement. The results? No relevant changes in the volunteers.

The authors conclude that “these results indicate that advanced maturation nopal does not have influence in bone health, body mass index, and body composition in adult women.

Click here to read the original findings.

Arthritis Digest Magazine was selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 5 Arthritis Blogs on the internet in 2019.

For more in-depth features, interviews and information, subscribe to Arthritis Digest magazine, a popular title that’s published six times a year. Click here for the digital version or tel 0845 643 8470 to order your had copy. You’ll know what your doctor is talking about, what new drugs are in the pipeline and be up to date on helpful products.