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Dietary protein in relation to bone stiffness index and fat-free mass in a population consuming relatively low protein diets

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Abstract

Dietary protein has a mixed effect on skeletal health and the effect may differ by amount or source of protein. The purpose of this study was to investigate dietary protein in relation to bone density and fat-free mass in rural Korean residents consuming relatively low protein diets. Between 2008 and 2010, 3,330 participants were recruited for a baseline examination of a community-based study in Kangwha. Of those, 1,182 men and 1,393 postmenopausal women were eligible for the present study. Diet was assessed using a food-frequency questionnaire developed for Korean adults. Calcaneal bone density measured by ultrasound was expressed as the stiffness index (SI). Fat-free mass index (FFMI) was defined as fat-free mass in kilograms divided by the height in meters squared. The mean ages of men and women were 59.5 and 60.0 years, respectively. The median daily intakes of total and meat protein were 52.3 and 6.7 g in men and 45.0 and 3.0 g in women, respectively. After controlling for potential confounders, SI and FFMI showed an increasing trend with a higher meat protein intake in men (P for trend = 0.017 and 0.033, respectively), but not in women. No positive association was observed for other food sources of protein. In conclusion, our findings suggest that meat protein contributes to skeletal health in men consuming relatively low protein diets.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2008-E71004-00, 2009-E71006-00, 2010-E71003-00) and the Korea Healthcare technology R&D Project, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (A102065). The funding source had no involvement in the study design, analysis, interpretation, or decision to submit this work.

Conflict of interest

All authors have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Republic of Korea

    Sun Min Oh, Hyeon Chang Kim & Il Suh

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 420 East Superior Street, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Hyeon Chang Kim

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrine Research Institute, and Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Republic of Korea

    Yumie Rhee

  4. Division of Epidemiology and Health Index, Center for Genome Science, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Gangoe-myeon, Cheongwon-gun, Chungbuk, 363-951, Republic of Korea

    Seon-Joo Park

  5. Center for Nutrition Policy & Promotion, Korea Health Industry Development Institute, 187 Osongsaengmyeong2-ro, Gangoe-myeon, Cheongwon-gun, Chungbuk, 363-951, Republic of Korea

    Hae-Jeung Lee

  6. Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Diane Feskanich

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  1. Sun Min Oh
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Correspondence to Il Suh.

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Oh, S.M., Kim, H.C., Rhee, Y. et al. Dietary protein in relation to bone stiffness index and fat-free mass in a population consuming relatively low protein diets. J Bone Miner Metab 31, 433–441 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00774-013-0427-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00774-013-0427-z

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