Study Finds Protein Below 0.8 g/kg Blunts Osteoporosis Drugs as Calcium Pills Show No Added Benefit
Updated
Updated · Medscape · Jul 24
Study Finds Protein Below 0.8 g/kg Blunts Osteoporosis Drugs as Calcium Pills Show No Added Benefit
3 articles · Updated · Medscape · Jul 24
Summary
586 Swiss women followed for a median 3.5 years showed no extra gains in hip bone mineral density or strength from calcium supplements when overall calcium intake was already adequate.
Low protein intake — below 0.8 g/kg of body weight a day — weakened the bone-sparing effects of antiresorptive therapy on trabecular BMD and total hip strength.
Antiresorptive drugs and menopausal hormone therapy both slowed annual hip BMD loss versus no medication, and antiresorptives also reduced hip strength loss.
71% of participants consumed at least 1,200 mg/day of calcium and median total intake was 1,503 mg/day, helping explain why routine supplementation showed little added value.
Among women consuming less than 800 mg/day of calcium, osteoporosis drugs showed no apparent benefit without supplements, suggesting intake assessment matters before prescribing calcium.