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ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Healthy Body Weight Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #233689
Title: A Diet High in Meat Protein and Potential Renal Acid Load Increases Absorption and Urinary Excretion of Calcium, As Well As Serum IGF-I in Postmenopausal Women

Author
item Cao, Jay
item JOHNSON, LUANN - UNIV. OF NORTH DAKOTA
item Hunt, Janet

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/7/2009
Publication Date: 4/27/2009
Citation: Cao, J.J., Johnson, L.K., Hunt, J.R. A Diet High in Meat Protein and Potential Renal Acid Load Increases Absorption and Urinary Excretion of Calcium, As Well As Serum IGF-I in Postmenopausal Women. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 23:108.7.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Objective: The objective was to determine the effect of increasing protein and potential renal acid load (PRAL) on Ca retention and markers of bone metabolism. Methods: In a randomized crossover design, twenty postmenopausal women consumed two diets: one low protein, low PRAL (LPLP) and one high protein (mostly meat), high PRAL (HPHP) for 7 wk each, separated by a one-week break. After 3 wk, the entire 2-d menu of each diet was radio-labeled with 47Ca and retention was measured by whole body scintillation counting for an additional 4 weeks. Biomarkers of bone metabolism in blood and urine were measured. Results: Compared with the LPLP diet, the HPHP diet increased urinary acidity (pH: 7.1 vs. 5.9, ± 0.25*, p < 0.01), urinary Ca excretion (156 vs. 203, ± 63 mg/d, p < 0.01), and blood IGF-I levels** [137 (103 – 184) vs. 174 (130 – 232) ng/ml, p < 0.01) consistently from week 1 through 7. The fractional Ca absorption was lower in subjects with LPLP than with HPHP diet (25.0 vs. 30.4, ± 5.4%, respectively, p < 0.02). The HPHP diet tended to increase the absolute amount of Ca absorbed compared with LPLP diet (227 vs. 258, ± 47 mg/d, p < 0.08). Conclusions: In postmenopausal women, a diet high in both meat protein and potential renal acid load increased serum IGF-I and Ca absorption, which was nearly equivalent to the increase in urinary excretion. A high meat diet does not appear detrimental for bone health. *Mean ± pooled SD; **Geometric means, ranges.