Dietary protein intake from different animal and plant sources plays a minor role in the bone health of adults with or without intermittent fasting for decades

Abstract

We examined whether bone health is related to protein intake from different sources by utilising a distinct, rare dietary pattern: avoidance of animal foods for approximately half of the year according to Christian Orthodox Church fasting. Four-hundred adults, of whom 200 had been following religious fasting for a median of 15 years and 200 were non-fasters, underwent anthropometry, measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC), and completed a food frequency questionnaire. Groups did not differ significantly in anthropometric measures, BMD, or BMC. Fasters had higher consumption of seafood and lower consumption of red meat, poultry-eggs, dairy products, and grains-cereals than non-fasters. Protein intake from these food groups exhibited similar differences; overall, fasters had lower protein intake than non-fasters. BMD and BMC were positively, though weakly, correlated with red meat and poultry-egg consumption. Thus, protein intake seems to play a minor (if any) role in bone health.

Keywords:

• Bone mineral content
• bone mineral density
• dairy
• grains
• meat
• periodic fasting

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Metropolitan Varnavas of Neapolis and Stavroupolis, Thessaloniki; Metropolitan Georgios of Kitros, Katerini, and Platamon; Hieromonk Father Luke Kipouros of Holy Trinity Monastery, Panorama, Thessaloniki; Nun, Melani Chatzipatera, Mother Superior of Assumption of Virgin Monastery, Panorama, Thessaloniki; Professor Emeritus of the School of Theology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Dimitrios Tselegidis; Archimandrite Nikodemos Skrettas-Plexidas; and Archpriest Athanasios Gikas; Professors of the School of Pastoral and Social Theology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, for their help in collecting the study sample. The authors have received permission from those named in the acknowledgement.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.