American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 81, No. 1, 201,
January 2005
© 2005 American Society for Clinical Nutrition
Nutrition and Bone Health,
edited by Michael F Holick and Bess Dawson-Hughes, 2004, 702 pages, hardcover, $166. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ.
Felix Bronner
University of Connecticut Health Center
Building 26, Room 1007
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-6125
E-mail: bronner{at}neuron.uchc.edu
Nutrition and Bone Health covers the field extensively in 36 chapters, many of which were written by well-known experts in their field. The book is divided into 7 major sections, beginning with the section "Basics of Nutrition and Bone Biology" and ending with the section "Secondary Osteoporosis/Diseases." In their Preface, the editors indicate that the book is addressed to a wide variety of health professionals, with varying levels of knowledge and expertise. The result is broad coverage at a relatively unsophisticated level for a given topic. Thus, the nutritionist who has limited knowledge of bone biology and diseases will gain useful information, but some of the nutritional information may appear elementary to the well-trained clinical dietitian. All chapters attempt to emphasize the nutritional component of the condition or disease being discussed, yet in only a small number of instances are specific nutritional recommendations made beyond the usual advice of consuming a diverse diet that provides an adequate macronutrient and micronutrient supply. Often, this is due to the absence of adequate research or to the fact that positive experimental findings have not been extended to human studies. For example, the conclusion by Gabriel Fernandes that "...there is strong support for the contention that dietary fish oil can decrease OVX [ovariectomy]-induced bone loss" indicates a possible mechanism, but Fernandes added that "...additional studies are needed to determine the effects of ...n-3 fatty acids... in protecting against perimenopausal bone loss. ..." Will this enable the experienced clinical dietitian to make specific recommendations to the perimenopausal woman? On the other hand, would she not have known what Susan Barr concluded, perfectly sensibly, ie, "...it would be prudent for committed vegans to choose fortified foods and/or supplements to ensure they can meet current recommendations for these nutrients. "
Many chapters contain extensive and useful summaries. For example, the chapter by Douglas Kiel contains long summaries of the many publications that have dealt with the effects of smoking and alcohol on bone health. This chapter, like many others, contains many references so that the reader interested in a particular subject can gain a good introduction to what is known or needs to be known. Other chapters deal with topics that one might not easily find summarized elsewhere, eg, chapters on fluoride, lead, phytoestrogens, or bone health in cystic fibrosis. The book, therefore, can be a valuable reference and should be available in general and departmental libraries.
