Living in a green neighborhood can reduce the chance of developing brittle bones, research suggests

Living in green neighborhoods is not only pleasing to the eye, it can also reduce the risk of developing brittle bones, research shows.

A new study has found that people who live in greener areas tend to have higher bone density and a reduced risk of developing osteoporosis.

This could be the result of lower air pollution, which is known to cause inflammation, according to research involving almost 400,000 Britons.

Experts say trees and plants act as natural filters, removing pollutants from the air and lowering the risk to residents.

Researchers looked at people’s ‘exposure to greenness’ using a measure called a normalized difference vegetation index (NDV) based on satellite images.

Being physically active was also associated with a lower risk of osteoporosis, possibly because living in areas with green space offers more opportunities for exercise (stock image)

Statistical analysis revealed that people in greener neighborhoods had greater bone strength and were less likely to develop osteoporosis during the follow-up period.

The authors estimate the NDVI in steps of approximately 300 meters of available residential green space at a distance of 300 to 1500 meters.

With each such increase in NDVI, they found an increase in bone mineral density and a 5 percent lower risk of developing osteoporosis, according to the findings published in the BMJ.

Greener neighborhoods found lower levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution, typically from fossil fuel combustion, car exhaust emissions and particulate matter PM2.5.

Experts say trees and plants act as natural filters, removing pollutants from the air and reducing the risk to those who live there (stock image)

Previous studies have shown that exposure to air pollution can cause oxidative stress and inflammation and disrupt hormones, both of which increase the risk of osteoporosis, the researchers noted.

Being physically active was also associated with a lower risk of osteoporosis, possibly because living in areas with green space provides more opportunities for exercise, the researchers suggest.

Researchers from Central South University, Changsha, China, noted that it is an observational study and therefore cannot determine cause: ‘The findings from this study provide the first evidence indicating that greenery in homes is associated with higher bone density and reduced risk of developing osteoporosis. .

‘These findings provide valuable insights into the potential of greenery in preventing the onset of osteoporosis and highlight the importance of urban greening in developing effective prevention strategies.’