HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Devine, A. Articles by Prince, R. L Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Devine, A. Articles by Prince, R. L Agricola Articles by Devine, A. Articles by Prince, R. L

Protein consumption is an important predictor of lower limb bone mass in elderly women^1,2,3

¹ From the School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia (AD, IMD, AFMI, and RLP); the Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Australia (AD, IMD, SSD, and RLP); the Western Australian Institute of Medical Research, Perth, Australia (AD, IMD, AFMI, and RLP); the School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Science, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia (AD); and the School of Public Health, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia (SSD)

BACKGROUND:: The effect of protein intake on bone density is uncertain, and evidence exists for beneficial effects of both low and high protein intakes.

OBJECTIVE:: The objective was to study the relation between protein consumption and bone mass in elderly women with allowance for other lifestyle factors affecting bone metabolism.

DESIGN:: We conducted a cross-sectional and longitudinal study of a population-based sample of 1077 women aged 75 ± 3 y. At baseline, protein consumption was measured with a food-frequency questionnaire, and bone mass and structure were measured by using quantitative ultrasound of the heel. One year later, hip bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

RESULTS:: Subjects consumed a mean (±SD) of 80.5 ± 27.8 g protein/d (1.19 ± 0.44 g protein/kg body wt). Regression analysis showed a positive correlation between protein intake and qualitative ultrasound of the heel and BMD after adjustment for age, body mass index, and other nutrients. The dose-response effect was best characterized by protein consumption expressed in tertiles, such that subjects in the lowest tertile (<66 g protein/d) had significantly lower qualitative ultrasound of the heel (1.3%) and hip BMD (2.6%) than did the subjects in the higher tertiles (>87 g protein/d).

CONCLUSION:: These data suggest that protein intakes for elderly women above current recommendations may be necessary to optimize bone mass.

Key Words: Protein • elderly women • bone density • dietary intake

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. M Hodgson, A. Devine, V. Burke, I. M Dick, and R. L Prince Chocolate consumption and bone density in older women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2008; 87(1): 175 - 180. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Vatanparast, D. A. Bailey, A. D. G. Baxter-Jones, and S. J. Whiting The Effects of Dietary Protein on Bone Mineral Mass in Young Adults May Be Modulated by Adolescent Calcium Intake J. Nutr., December 1, 2007; 137(12): 2674 - 2679. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Devine, J. M Hodgson, I. M Dick, and R. L Prince Tea drinking is associated with benefits on bone density in older women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, October 1, 2007; 86(4): 1243 - 1247. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J S Volek, C E Forsythe, and W J Kraemer Nutritional aspects of women strength athletes Br. J. Sports Med., September 1, 2006; 40(9): 742 - 748. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Sebastian Protein consumption as an important predictor of lower-limb bone mass in elderly women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, December 1, 2005; 82(6): 1355 - 1356. [Full Text] [PDF]