December
2000http://human.editthispage.com/#Heaney,%20Robert%20P.%202000.%20Dietary%2
0protein%20and%20phosphorous%20do%20not%20affect%20calcium%20absorption.



Protein and phosphorous intake have no role in the absorption of dietary
calcium.
Previous studies have found that when woman have an inadequate calcium
intake, 'increased dietary protein' has increased loss of calcium in the
urine. There has also been a suggestion that the calcium in food with a very
high amount of phosphorus in them relative to the calcium content (such as
milk) may be poorly absorbed.  A recent study of calcium absorption in
relation to the phosphorous and protein content of the diet concluded that
'protein and phosphorous intake have no role in the absorption of dietary
calcium'. The study was conducted on 191 women at 5 year intervals over 32
years. High or low protein intake, high or low estrogen status (important in
considering osteoporosis) had no relationship to relative calcium
absorption.

These findings did not distinguish between protein from animals, or plant
protein. But in a study by Ronald Munger of Utah State University (American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1999 Jan;69:147-52) , women in the 55-69 year
old age bracket who ate more than 70 grams of animal protein had fives times
fewer incidences of  hip fracture (associated with osteoporosis, thinning of
the bones with age) than those who ate less than 49 grams of animal protein
per day. Curiously, in this last study, neither calcium intake or vitamin D
intake were associated with hip fracture risk.

So higher animal protein intake - seems to be both protective against hip
fracture, and does not cause calcium loss.

Heaney, Robert P. 2000. Dietary protein and phosphorous do not affect
calcium absorption.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2000;72:758-761.