Amount and Source of Protein Affects Risk of Osteoporosis in Older Adults
Sufficient protein is essential for musculoskeletal health, with research suggesting that those at greatest risk of loss of bone strength, and so osteoporosis, could benefit from consuming more than the recommended daily intake for the average population. From reviewing a recent study by Durosier-Izart et al. [1] in the context of the wider literature, it has been concluded that protein intake at 1.0-1.2g/kg body weight/day, primarily sourced from dairy protein, could optimise bone health in older adults, particularly post-menopausal women. Osteoporosis, a disease characterised by bone loss, weakening and increased fragility as a result of an imbalance between formation and resorption [2] , is prevalent in 3 million people in the UK [3] . It is defined as a bone mineral density (BMD) of -2.5 SD below that of a young adult, as measured by a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan [4] . Although bone loss occurs naturally with age, a number of risk factors may accelerat