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 .
Potassium Bicarbonate Supplementation Lowers Bone Turnover and Calcium Excretion in Older Men and Women: A Randomized Dose-Finding Trial.
The acid load accompanying modern diets may have adverse effects on bone and muscle metabolism . Treatment with alkaline salts of potassium can neutralize the acid load , but the optimal amount of alkali is not established . Our objective was to determine the effectiveness of two doses of potassium bicarbonate ( KHCO3 ) compared with placebo on biochemical markers of bone turnover , and calcium and nitrogen ( N ) excretion . In this double-blind , r and omized , placebo-controlled study , 244 men and women age 50 years and older were r and omized to placebo or 1 mmol/kg or 1.5 mmol/kg of KHCO3 daily for 3 months ; 233 completed the study . The primary outcomes were changes in 24-hour urinary N-telopeptide ( NTX ) and N ; changes in these measures were compared across the treatment groups . Exploratory outcomes included 24-hour urinary calcium excretion , serum amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen ( P1NP ) , and muscle strength and function assessment s. The median administered doses in the low-dose and high-dose groups were 81 mmol/day and 122 mmol/day , respectively . When compared with placebo , urinary NTX declined significantly in the low-dose group ( p = 0.012 , after adjustment for baseline NTX , gender , and change in urine creatinine ) and serum P1NP declined significantly in the low-dose group ( p = 0.004 , adjusted for baseline P1NP and gender ) . Urinary calcium declined significantly in both KHCO3 groups versus placebo ( p < 0.001 , adjusted for baseline urinary calcium , gender , and changes in urine creatinine and calcium intake ) . There was no significant effect of either dose of KHCO3 on urinary N excretion or on the physical strength and function measures .  KHCO3 has favorable effects on bone turnover and calcium excretion and the lower dose appears to be the more effective dose . Long-term trials to assess the effect of alkali on bone mass and fracture risk are needed
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 .