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 .
Does dietary protein reduce hip fracture risk in elders? The Framingham osteoporosis study
Summary Association between dietary protein and fracture risk is unclear . We examined association between energy-adjusted protein intake  and  hip fracture risk in elders . The risk of hip fracture was reduced in upper quartiles of protein intake when compared with lowest quartile . Introduction Studies of the association between dietary protein intake and hip fracture risk are conflicting . Therefore , we examined protein intake and hip fracture risk in a population -based group of elderly men and women . Methods Five hundred seventy-six women and 370 men from the Framingham Osteoporosis Study with no previous history of hip fracture completed Food Frequency Question naires .  Energy-adjusted protein intake  was evaluated as a continuous variable and as quartiles . Incidence rates and hazard ratios were calculated , adjusting for age , BMI , sex , and energy intake . Results Among 946 participants ( mean age 75 years ) , mean protein intake  was found to be 68 gm/d . Increased protein intake was associated with a decreased risk of hip fracture compared to those in the lowest quartile of protein intake ( Q2 HR = 0.70 , Q3 HR = 0.56 , and Q4 HR = 0.63 ; all p values ≥ 0.044 ) , p for trend was 0.07 . When a threshold effect was considered ( Q2–4 vs Q1 ) , intakes in the higher quartiles combined were associated with a significantly lower risk for hip fracture ( HR = 0.63 ; p = 0.04 ) . Conclusion Our results are consistent with reduced risk of hip fracture with higher dietary protein intake . Larger prospect i ve studies are needed to confirm and extend this finding in elderly men and women
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 .