Deer antler research provides possible osteoporosis insight

A new study into deer antlers in Spain has revealed potential new insight into the causes of osteoporosis.

Researchers from the University of Castilla-La Mancha have put forward a hypothesis that the bone disease may not be caused by a lack of calcium, but instead by the depletion of manganese, a mineral essential to calcium absorption.

This idea was inspired by research showing a marked increase in deer antler breakages seen in Spain in 2005, with subsequent studies showing a link to reduced manganese in the animal's diets due to biological trends among plants in the cold winter.

Furthers studies showed that manganese is also used in the maintenance of brain functions, meaning the conditions thought to cause osteoporosis could also lead to an increased risk of neurodegenerative conditions.

Although researchers acknowledge that further studies are needed to confirm this link, they added that the current study "is not a final solution to such diseases but constitutes the first step in a new direction".

According to NHS data, osteoporosis currently affects around three million people in the UK, predominantly postmenopausal women.