For every 25 grams of protein consumed per day – about the amount in a four-ounce serving of fish – the risk of hip fracture in underweight women drops by nearly half, a recent study has found. Drinking tea or coffee reduces the risk of hip fracture, too.

Researchers tracked the health of more than 26,000 middle-aged women for about 22 years. The women provided information about the types and quantities of foods they ate on a regular basis.

The researchers found that for every 25 grams of protein consumed per day, the women’s risk of experiencing a hip fracture decreased by 14 percent. However, when the researchers separated the women according to whether they were underweight, healthy weight, or overweight, they found that for every 25 grams of protein consumed per day, the risk of hip fracture for a woman who was underweight decreased by 45 percent.

Other dietary components influenced hip fracture risk, too. For example, for every additional cup of tea or coffee the women consumed, their risk decreased by 4 percent. And although calcium and vitamin D play important roles in bone health, their consumption reduced hip fracture risk only in women who were underweight.

These findings suggest that dietary protein protects against hip fractures, especially in women who are underweight. Learn more about the importance of dietary protein in this episode featuring Dr. Stuart Phillips.

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