Both protein and calcium are part of a balanced diet and necessary for good health. Protein helps your body maintain tissue and provides a form of energy, whereas calcium works to maintain strong bones and regulate hormones. However, because it's not known how protein intake affects bone mass, a study recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition investigated whether taking calcium and vitamin D supplements affected the bone mass and protein intake in 342 senior men and women.

The participants took either a supplement containing calcium and vitamin D or a sugar pill placebo for three years. Halfway through the study, the participants reported their food intake (including protein). The participants' bone mineral density (a test that shows the strength of a person's bones) was measured throughout the study.

The people in the study who took calcium supplements and had higher protein intakes had greater increases in overall bone mineral density than the people taking the placebo. As a result researchers concluded that people who take vitamin D and calcium supplements to increase bone mineral density may benefit from increasing protein intake, too.

Related information: Senior Care | Calcium | Protein

Sources:  Dawson-Hughes B, Harris SS. Calcium intake influences the association of protein intake with rates of bone loss in elderly men and women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, April 2002, Vol. 75, No. 4, pp. 773-779.