title: Protein intake and bone disorders in the elderly.
abstract: Malnutrition, most notably protein deficiency, contributes to the occurrence of osteoporotic fractures not only by decreasing bone mass but also by altering muscle function. Furthermore, malnutrition is associated with increased morbidity in patients with osteoporotic fractures. The somatomedin system (IGF-1) may be directly involved in the pathogenesis of osteoporotic hip fractures and their complications in elderly patients. A low IGF-1 level is a risk factor for hip fracture. In subjects with appropriate intakes of vitamin D and calcium, giving protein supplements to correct an inadequate spontaneous protein intake increases circulating IGF-1 levels, improves clinical outcomes after hip fracture, and prevents bone mineral density loss at the proximal femur. Supplemental protein also significantly reduces the length of inpatient rehabilitation care. These data emphasize the importance of adequate nutrient intake in the prevention and treatment of osteoporotic fractures.
authors.affiliation: Centre Collaborateur de l'OMS pour l'ostéoporose et les Maladies Osseuses, Département de Médecine Interne, Hôpital Cantonal Universitaire, Geneva, Switzerland. rizzoli@cmu.unige.ch
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rizzoli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ammann
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chevalley
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bonjour
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I