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High Dietary Protein Intake and Protein-Related Acid Load on Bone Health

  • Nutrition, Exercise and Lifestyle in Osteoporosis (S Shapses and J Lappe, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Consumption of high-protein diets is increasingly popular due to the benefits of protein on preserving lean mass and controlling appetite and satiety. The paper is to review recent clinical research assessing dietary protein on calcium metabolism and bone health.

Recent Findings

Epidemiological studies show that long-term, high-protein intake is positively associated with bone mineral density and reduced risk of bone fracture incidence. Short-term interventional studies demonstrate that a high-protein diet does not negatively affect calcium homeostasis. Existing evidence supports that the negative effects of the acid load of protein on urinary calcium excretion are offset by the beneficial skeletal effects of high-protein intake.

Summary

Future research should focus on the role and the degree of contribution of other dietary and physiological factors, such as intake of fruits and vegetables, in reducing the acid load and further enhancing the anabolic effects of protein on the musculoskeletal system.

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Funding

This work was supported by the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) program “Food Factors to Prevent Obesity and Related Diseases” Current Research Information System (CRIS) no. 3062-51,000-053-00D, as part of the authors’ official duties.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA

    Jay J. Cao

  2. USDA ARS Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, 2420 2nd Ave N, Grand Forks, ND, 58202-9034, USA

    Jay J. Cao

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  1. Jay J. Cao
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Correspondence to Jay J. Cao.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Nutrition, Exercise and Lifestyle in Osteoporosis

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Cao, J.J. High Dietary Protein Intake and Protein-Related Acid Load on Bone Health. Curr Osteoporos Rep 15, 571–576 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-017-0408-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-017-0408-6

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