High protein consumption in trained women: bad to the bone?
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether a high-protein diet affects whole body and lumbar bone mineral content in exercise-trained women.
Results Summary
The study found no significant differences in whole body bone mineral density, lumbar bone mineral density, T-scores, lean body mass, or fat mass between the high-protein and control groups, despite an 87% higher protein intake in the high-protein group.
Population
Exercise-trained women
Effective Dosage
Control: 1.5±0.3 g/kg/d; High-protein: 2.8±1.1 g/kg/d
Duration
6 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
high-protein diet | no change | whole body bone mineral density | exercise-trained women | - | had no effect | #1 |
high-protein diet | no change | lumbar bone mineral density | exercise-trained women | - | had no effect | #2 |
high-protein diet | no change | T-scores | exercise-trained women | - | had no effect | #3 |
high-protein diet | no change | lean body mass | exercise-trained women | - | had no effect | #4 |
high-protein diet | no change | fat mass | exercise-trained women | - | had no effect | #5 |
high-protein diet | increase | protein intake | exercise-trained women | 87% | higher protein intake | #6 |
BACKGROUND: It has been posited that the consumption of extra protein (> 0.8 g/kg/d) may be deleterious to bone mineral content. However, there is no direct evidence to show that consuming a high-protein diet results in a demineralization of the skeleton. Thus, the primary endpoint of this randomized controlled trial was to determine if a high-protein diet affected various parameters of whole body and lumbar bone mineral content in exercise-trained women. METHODS: Twenty-four women volunteered for this 6-month investigation ( RESULTS: During the 6-month treatment period, there was a significant difference in protein intake between the control and high-protein groups (mean±SD; control: 1.5±0.3, high-protein: 2.8±1.1 g/kg/d); however, there were no differences in the consumption total calories, carbohydrate or fat. Whole body bone mineral density did not change in the control (pre: 1.22±0.08, post: 1.22±0.09 g/cm CONCLUSION: Despite an 87% higher protein intake (high-protein versus control), 6 months of a high-protein diet had no effect on whole body bone mineral density, lumbar bone mineral density, T-scores, lean body mass or fat mass.