Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, August 11 (Reporter Liu Xia) A large tracking study of British women found that vegetarian women had a 33% higher risk of hip fractures than women who ate meat.

The increased risk may be due to a meat-free diet that results in less protein — more protein that helps build muscle mass — and possible deficiencies in vitamins and minerals (such as calcium and vitamin B12) that help build stronger bones .

The latest research was published recently in the journal BMC Medicine.

　　Study leader James Webster from the University of Leeds said women were more likely than men to fracture their hips, especially as estrogen levels drop after menopause, leading to weaker bones as they age.

Hip fractures are also an important cause of death in the elderly because hip fractures are difficult to recover and can cause a variety of complications with considerable health implications.

　　Previous research has shown that vegetarians have weaker bones.

In the latest study, Webster's team drew on a large ongoing study that has tracked the health and lifestyles of more than 26,000 women in the UK for about 20 years.

The subjects were between the ages of 35 and 69 when they participated in the experiment.

Overall, about 3 percent of the participants suffered a hip fracture during this time.

Vegetarians had a 33 percent higher risk of the condition compared with those who ate meat at least five times a week, while there was no difference in risk between those who ate meat regularly and those who ate less meat or only fish.

　　But Webster also pointed out that this finding should not make people abandon veganism, because people can get protein from dairy products and soy, supplemented with vitamins or fortified dairy products with calcium if necessary.

Jane Elford, of the British Vegetarian Association, also said: "Fracture risk is often associated with calcium and vitamin D intake, so reliable intake of these nutrients needs to be ensured."

　　Other studies have found that vegetarian diets are beneficial in several ways, such as a reduced risk of heart disease.

But the studies, including this one, are observational and therefore cannot prove that dietary patterns lead to different health outcomes, only that there is a correlation.

In addition, vegetarians generally have healthier lifestyles, such as avoiding smoking and alcohol as much as possible.