Low Energy Availability with and without a High-Protein Diet Suppresses Bone Formation and Increases Bone Resorption in Men: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Authors

• Chaise Murphy, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
• Laura D. Bilek, University of Nebraska Medical CenterFollow
• Karsten Koehler, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2-28-2021

Citation

Murphy, C.; Bilek, L.D.; Koehler, K. Low Energy Availability with and without a High-Protein Diet Suppresses Bone Formation and Increases Bone Resorption in Men: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Nutrients 2021, 13, 802. https:// doi.org/10.3390/nu13030802

Comments

CC-BY

Abstract

Suppression of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and leptin secondary to low energy availability (LEA) may contribute to adverse effects on bone health. Whether a high-protein diet attenuates these effects has not been tested. Seven men completed three five-day conditions operationally defined as LEA (15 kcal kg fat-free mass (FFM)^-1 day^-1) with low protein (LEA-LP; 0.8 g protein·kg body weight (BW)^-1), LEA with high protein (LEA-HP; 1.7 g protein·kg BW^-1) and control (CON; 40 kcal·kg FFM^-1·day^-1, 1.7 g protein·kg BW^-1). In all conditions, participants expended 15 kcal·kg FFM-1·day-1 during supervised cycling sessions. Serum samples were analyzed for markers of bone turnover, IGF-1 and leptin. The decrease in leptin during LEA-LP (-65.6 ± 4.3%) and LEA-HP (-54.3 ± 16.7%) was greater than during CON (-25.4 ± 11.4%; p = 0.02). Decreases in P1NP (p = 0.04) and increases in CTX-I (p = 0.04) were greater in LEA than in CON, suggesting that LEA shifted bone turnover in favour of bone resorption. No differences were found between LEA-LP and LEA-HP. Thus, five days of LEA disrupted bone turnover, but these changes were not attenuated by a high-protein diet.