> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Dietary protein, some amino acids increase bone mineral density
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/amino_acids_increase_bone_mineral_density_0302160656/
- Published: 2016-03-03T07:55:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:28:00.000Z
- Description: A Journal of Bone and Mineral Research study of 135 twin pairs linked higher alanine and glycine intake in women to higher spine bone mineral density, and an analysis of 3,160 women aged 18 to 79 tied protein and six amino acids to higher density at the spine and forearm.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Food, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Thursday March 3, 2016 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study in Journal of Bone and Mineral Research suggests that eating proteins and certain amino acids may help maintain high bone mineral density, which is an important indicator for bone health.

High intake of protein, particularly from vegetables has been associated with higher bone mineral density (BMD). Also in previous studies, five non-essential amino acids namely alanine, arginine, glutamic acid, glycine, and proline have been found particularly helpful because they help produce insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1, collagen and muscle protein.

The current study of 135 twin-pairs found that higher intake of alanine and glycine in females was correlated with higher BMD at the spine.

Another analysis of data from 3160 females aged 18 to 79 revealed that higher intake of protein and six amino acids including alanine, arginine, glutamic acid, leucine, lysine, and proline was significantly associated with higher BMD at the spine and the forearm. Leucine seems to be particularly helpful.

Dietary protein was also found to protect against osteoporosis or osteopenia. (David Liu)

*Amy Jennings, Alexander MacGregor, Tim Spector andAedín Cassidy, Amino Acid Intakes Are Associated With Bone Mineral Density and Prevalence of Low Bone Mass in Women: Evidence From Discordant Monozygotic Twins, Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, Volume 31, Issue 2, pages 326–335, February 2016*