Adverse gastrointestinal events were more common with high-protein diets .
Multivariable meta-regression analysis showed no significant dose response with higher protein intake .
Conclusions : Higher-protein diets  probably improve adiposity , blood pressure and triglyceride levels , but these effects are small and need to be weighed against the potential for harms
Background / Objectives : Numerous r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) published in first tier medical journals have evaluated the health effects of diets high in protein .
We conducted a rigorous systematic review of RCTs comparing higher- and lower-protein diets .
A diet high in protein, dairy, and calcium attenuates bone loss over twelve months of weight loss and maintenance relative to a conventional high-carbohydrate diet in adults.
Weight loss causes  bone mineral loss .  Higher protein diets continue to be criticized for further potential harmful bone effects , including elevated urinary calcium , but may promote bone health if protein sources include dairy . Overweight middle-aged subjects ( n = 130 , 59 males ) were r and omized to a diet providing 1.4 g.kg(-1).d(-1 ) protein and 3 daily servings of dairy ( PRO ) or 0.8 g.kg(-1).d(-1 ) protein and 2 daily servings of dairy ( CARB ) for 4 mo of weight loss plus 8 mo of weight maintenance . Diets prescribed 6276 kJ/d for females and 7113 kJ/d for males . Bone mineral content and density ( BMD ) for whole body ( WB ) , lumbar spine ( LS ) and total hip ( TH ) were measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry , and dietary intake using 3-d weighed food records . Urinary calcium was measured using 24-h collection at 0 and 8 mo for a sub sample ( n = 42 ) . Participants lost body weight ( mean , 95 % CI ) of 8.2 % ( 7.5 - 8.9 % ) at 4 mo , 10.6 % ( 9.5 - 11.8 % ) at 8 mo , and 10.5 % ( 8.9 - 12.0 % ) at 12 mo without differences between groups at any time ( P = 0.64 ) . At 12 mo , PRO BMD was higher by 1.6 % ( 0.3 - 3.0 % ) at WB , 2.1 % ( 0.6 - 3.7 % ) at LS , and 1.4 % ( 0.2 - 2.5 % ) at TH compared with  CARB  .  PRO calcium intake was higher ( PRO : 1140 + /- 58 mg/d , CARB : 766 + /- 46 ; P < 0.01 ) , as was urinary calcium ( PRO : 163 + /- 15 mg/d , CARB : 100 + /- 9.2 ; P < 0.01 ) . A reduced-energy diet supplying 1.4 g.kg(-1).d(-1 ) protein and 3 dairy servings increased urinary calcium excretion but provided improved calcium intake and attenuated bone loss over 4 mo of weight loss and 8 additional mo of weight maintenance
Adverse gastrointestinal events were more common with high-protein diets .
Multivariable meta-regression analysis showed no significant dose response with higher protein intake .
Conclusions : Higher-protein diets  probably improve adiposity , blood pressure and triglyceride levels , but these effects are small and need to be weighed against the potential for harms
Background / Objectives : Numerous r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) published in first tier medical journals have evaluated the health effects of diets high in protein .
We conducted a rigorous systematic review of RCTs comparing higher- and lower-protein diets .