The research was commissioned by the Food Standards Agency and involved more than 3,000 Scottish women. The researchers looked at women during different stages of the menopause, some of whom were taking hormone replacement therapy and measured their bone density at hip and spine.

The results of the FSA study showed a possible link between eating fruit and vegetables and stronger hip bones in women before and around the time of menopause.

The study also suggested a possible link with the amount of vitamin D women consume.

The apparent protective effect of fruit and vegetables could be due to the nutrients or it is possible that the alkaline salts produced when they are digested are having a beneficial effect. These might help counteract acid salts produced by other foods such as meat and cheese. The alkalinity generated by the fruit and vegetable intake could therefore prevent the need for alkaline salts to be released from bone and so maintain the bones' strength.

The FSA has said it will now commission further research to investigate these possibilities.