ESPEN 2022 Abstract Submission

Topic: Geriatrics

Abstract Submission Identifier: ESPEN22-ABS-1743

PLANT VERSUS ANIMAL PROTEIN INTAKE ON BONE MINERAL DENSITY IN A COMBINED COHORT OF FRAIL, MALNOURISHED AND HEALTHY OLDER ADULTS

I. Groenendijk^*, ¹, P. Grootswagers ¹, A. Santoro ², C. Franceschi ², A. Bazzocchi ³, N. Meunier ⁴, A. Caille ⁴, C. Malpuech-Brugere ⁴, A. Bialecka-Debek ⁵, B. Pietruszka ⁵, S. Fairweather-Tait ⁶, A. Jennings ⁶, L. C. de Groot ¹

¹Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands, ²University of Bologna, ³IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy, ⁴CRNH Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France, ⁵Warsaw University of Life Sciences–SGGW, Warsaw, Poland, ⁶University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom

Rationale: Dietary protein intake from animal-based foods might be more beneficial for bone health of older adults compared to plant-based protein sources. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between plant and animal protein intake with spine and total body BMD in older adults.

Methods: Individual data from four trials that included either (pre-)frail, undernourished or healthy older adults (aged ≥65 y) were combined. Dietary intake was assessed with food records (2, 3 or 7 days) and BMD with Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA). Associations were assessed by linear mixed models and adjusted for age, sex, physical activity, smoking, and intakes of alcohol, calcium, vitamin D and energy.

Results: A total of 1570 participants for which at least protein intake and total body BMD were known were included. In fully adjusted models, animal protein intake was associated with higher total body (beta 0.0011 g/cm², SE 0.0002, p<0.001) and spine BMD (beta 0.0017 g/cm², SE 0.0004, p<0.001), while plant protein intake was associated with a lower total body (beta -0.0010 g/cm², SE 0.0005, p=0.026) and spine BMD (beta -0.0019 g/cm², SE 0.0008, p=0.013). Associations were similar between sexes. In addition, participants with a high ratio of animal to plant protein intake had higher BMD.

Conclusion: An association between animal protein intake with higher BMD was found. In contrast, plant protein intake was associated with lower BMD. For older adults specifically, a transition to plant-based foods might have adverse effects on bone health. Therefore, research is warranted to further investigate the impact of a plant-based diet on bone health.

Disclosure of Interest: None Declared

Keywords: animal protein, bone mineral density, Older adults, Osteoporosis, plant protein, protein intake