Dietary protein may help prevent hip fractures

Higher levels of dietary protein may protect seniors from hip fractures, a new study claims.

The new study was conducted by the Institute for Aging Research of Hebrew SeniorLife in Boston, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

The study, which examined the daily protein intake of 946 seniors from the Framingham Osteoporosis Study, found that individuals who were in the lowest 25% of dietary protein intake had approximately 50% more hip fractures than those who consumed greater amounts of dietary protein (all within normal intakes).

Those who suffered hip fractures consumed less than the 46 grams of dietary protein per day recommended for adults.

"Study participants who consumed higher amounts of protein in their diet were significantly less likely to suffer a hip fracture," says senior study author Marian T. Hannan, D.Sc., M.P.H., co-director of the Musculoskeletal Research Program at the Institute for Aging Research.

The study will be published this week in the online-first edition of Osteoporosis International.