Elderly women who get a much higher intake of their dietary protein from animal products rather than vegetables have an increased risk of bone loss and hip fracture, according to University of California (UCSF) researchers. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, suggests that women may be able to improve bone health by eating more vegetables. 

The women in the study, ages 65 to 80, were grouped into three categories: those with a high ratio of animal to vegetable protein, those with a middle-range ratio, and those with a low ratio. Researchers compared the ratios to the women's bone mineral density, bone loss, and fractures in a seven-year follow-up period.

While there was no difference in initial bone mineral density among the groups of women, the high ratio category had three times the rate of bone loss as the women in the low group during the follow-up period.  The high group also had nearly four times the rate of hip fractures compared to the low group. This is after researchers adjusted for age, weight, estrogen use, tobacco use, exercise, total calcium intake, and total protein intake.