In older people with osteoporosis , higher protein intake ( ≥ 0.8-g/kg body weight/day , i.e. , above the current RDA ) is associated with higher BMD , a slower rate of bone loss , and reduced risk of hip fracture , provided that dietary calcium intakes are adequate .
Intervention with dietary protein supplements attenuate age-related BMD decrease and reduce bone turnover marker levels , together with an increase in IGF-I and a decrease in PTH .
There is no evidence that diet-derived acid load is deleterious for bone health .
Thus , insufficient dietary protein intakes may be a more severe problem than protein excess in the elderly .
A summary of systematic review s and meta-analyses addressing the benefits and risks of dietary protein intakes  for  bone health in adults suggests that dietary protein levels even above the current RDA may be beneficial in reducing bone loss and hip fracture risk , provided calcium intakes are adequate .
Several systematic review s and meta-analyses have addressed the benefits and risks of dietary protein intakes for bone health in adults .
Adequate supplies of dietary protein are required for optimal bone growth and maintenance of healthy bone .
Variation in protein intakes within the “ normal ” range accounts for 2–4 % of BMD variance in adults .
Risk factors for hip fracture in white men: the NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study.
This prospect i ve population -based study assessed predictors of hip fracture risk in white men . Participants were members of the Epidemiologic Follow-up Study cohort of the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey , a nationally representative sample of noninstitutionalized civilians who were followed for a maximum of 22 years . A cohort of 2879 white men ( 2249 in the nutrition and weight-loss sub sample , 1437 in the bone density sub sample ) aged 45 - 74 years at baseline ( 1971 - 1975 ) were observed through 1992 . Ninety-four percent of the original cohort were successfully traced . Hospital records and death certificates were used to identify a total of 71 hip fracture cases ( 61 in the nutrition and weight-loss sub sample , 26 in the bone-density sub sample ) . Among the factors evaluated were age at baseline , previous fractures other than hip , body mass index , smoking status , alcohol consumption , nonrecreational physical activity , weight loss from maximum , calcium intake , number of calories , protein consumption , chronic disease prevalence , and phalangeal bone density . The risk adjusted relative risk ( RR ) of hip fracture was significantly associated with presence of one or more chronic conditions ( RR = 1.91 , 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] = 1.19 - 3.06 ) , weight loss from maximum > or = 10 % ( RR = 2.27 , 95 % CI 1.13 - 4.59 ) , and 1 SD change in phalangeal bone density ( RR = 1.73 , 95 % CI 1.11 - 2.68 ) . No other variables were significantly related to hip fracture risk . Although based on a small number of cases , this is one of the first prospect i ve studies to relate weight loss and bone density to hip fracture risk in men
In older people with osteoporosis , higher protein intake ( ≥ 0.8-g/kg body weight/day , i.e. , above the current RDA ) is associated with higher BMD , a slower rate of bone loss , and reduced risk of hip fracture , provided that dietary calcium intakes are adequate .
Intervention with dietary protein supplements attenuate age-related BMD decrease and reduce bone turnover marker levels , together with an increase in IGF-I and a decrease in PTH .
There is no evidence that diet-derived acid load is deleterious for bone health .
Thus , insufficient dietary protein intakes may be a more severe problem than protein excess in the elderly .
A summary of systematic review s and meta-analyses addressing the benefits and risks of dietary protein intakes  for  bone health in adults suggests that dietary protein levels even above the current RDA may be beneficial in reducing bone loss and hip fracture risk , provided calcium intakes are adequate .
Several systematic review s and meta-analyses have addressed the benefits and risks of dietary protein intakes for bone health in adults .
Adequate supplies of dietary protein are required for optimal bone growth and maintenance of healthy bone .
Variation in protein intakes within the “ normal ” range accounts for 2–4 % of BMD variance in adults .