Osteoporosis Archive Questions

Below are Dr. Streeten’s answers to Osteoporosis questions
received through the Ask the Expert feature.

This content is provided for informational purposes only, and is not intended
to be a substitute for individual medical advice in diagnosing or treating a
health problem. Please consult with your physician about your specific health
care concerns.



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Q : 1 01/28/2009

I have heard that a high-protein diet creates a negative calcium balance while a low-protein diet creates a positive calcium balance and that the problem is not that we need more calcium but less protein which would allow our bodies to retain calcium. There seems to be a connection between animal protein and calcium loss in urine. Is this true? Yes, a diet that is high in animal protein causes excessive calcium loss in the urine. However, in addition, about 5% of people in the general population pass too much calcium in the urine regardless of diet and among people with osteoporosis the number rises to 15-20%. Excessive calcium loss in the urine is one of many factors that can lead to osteoporosis but in most people with osteoporosis, it is not the only factor. Genetics, body weight, lifestyle, and medications are also very important factors that affect a person's risk for osteoporosis. I hope this answers your question.

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