Animal protein bad for bones
Previous studies show that high intakes of animal protein can lead to bone loss. This five-year study in the British Journal of Nutrition looked at the diets of 757 girls in Beijing, China. Some of the group were given cow’s milk for the first two years. Results showed that while calcium intake improved bone health, animal protein (especially from meat and eggs) reduced bone density. Plant protein did not have this harmful effect.
Zhang et al., 2010. The association between dietary protein intake and bone mass accretion in pubertal girls with low calcium intakes. British Journal Nutrition. 103 (5) 714-723.
About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.
View author page | View staff profile
