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Does dietary protein reduce hip fracture risk in elders? The Framingham osteoporosis study

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Abstract

Summary

Association between dietary protein and fracture risk is unclear. We examined association between energy-adjusted protein intake and hip fracture risk in elders. The risk of hip fracture was reduced in upper quartiles of protein intake when compared with lowest quartile.

Introduction

Studies of the association between dietary protein intake and hip fracture risk are conflicting. Therefore, we examined protein intake and hip fracture risk in a population-based group of elderly men and women.

Methods

Five hundred seventy-six women and 370 men from the Framingham Osteoporosis Study with no previous history of hip fracture completed Food Frequency Questionnaires. Energy-adjusted protein intake was evaluated as a continuous variable and as quartiles. Incidence rates and hazard ratios were calculated, adjusting for age, BMI, sex, and energy intake.

Results

Among 946 participants (mean age 75 years), mean protein intake was found to be 68 gm/d. Increased protein intake was associated with a decreased risk of hip fracture compared to those in the lowest quartile of protein intake (Q2 HR = 0.70, Q3 HR = 0.56, and Q4 HR = 0.63; all p values ≥ 0.044), p for trend was 0.07. When a threshold effect was considered (Q2–4 vs Q1), intakes in the higher quartiles combined were associated with a significantly lower risk for hip fracture (HR = 0.63; p = 0.04).

Conclusion

Our results are consistent with reduced risk of hip fracture with higher dietary protein intake. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm and extend this finding in elderly men and women.

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Conflicts of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    D. Misra

  2. Hebrew SeniorLife, Institute for Aging Research, 1200 Centre Street, Boston, MA, 02131, USA

    S. D. Berry, K. E. Broe, R. R. McLean, D. P. Kiel & M. T. Hannan

  3. Division of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Harvard Medical School, BIDMC, Boston, MA, USA

    S. D. Berry, R. R. McLean, D. P. Kiel & M. T. Hannan

  4. Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    L. A. Cupples

  5. Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA, USA

    L. A. Cupples

  6. Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA

    K. L. Tucker

  7. Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA

    K. L. Tucker

Authors
  1. D. Misra
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  2. S. D. Berry
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  3. K. E. Broe
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  4. R. R. McLean
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  5. L. A. Cupples
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  6. K. L. Tucker
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  7. D. P. Kiel
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  8. M. T. Hannan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. T. Hannan.

Additional information

Support

This work was supported by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS R01 AR053205), National Institute on Aging (AG14759), National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases and National Institute on Aging (AR/AG41398), and from Framingham Heart Study of National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of National Institutes of Health and Boston University School of Medicine (N01-HC-25195), and by USDA contract 58-1950-7-707.

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Misra, D., Berry, S.D., Broe, K.E. et al. Does dietary protein reduce hip fracture risk in elders? The Framingham osteoporosis study. Osteoporos Int 22, 345–349 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-010-1179-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-010-1179-4

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