Can I just say how tired I am of telling people that animal protein causes bone loss? It's tiresome because this is NOT a subject of scientific controversy - it's something everyone should learn in kindergarden. There is so much evidence for this, and it's so important... why am I one of a only a few nutritionists talking about it?
Here's some more research for you:
In a recent study done by my alma mater (Tufts University, published in Journal of Renal Nutrition, Sept. 2008), they measured the acidity in the urine of vegans, lacto-ovo vegetarians and omnivores. They found mean estimated Net Acid Excretion (NAE) values were significantly different: 17.3 +/- 14.5 mEq/day for vegans, 31.3 +/- 8.5 mEq/day for lacto-ovo vegetarians, and 42.6 +/- 13.2 mEq/day for omnivores (analysis of variance, P = .01).
Net Acid Excretion (NAE) is a measurement of blood acidity which is largely due to dietary factors. Many studies have shown an strong positive "inverse" relationship between NAE and bone density. In other words, people with the highest blood acidity have less dense bones. This recent study shows what a powerful role diet plays in sparing bone loss: meat-eaters had 2&1/2 times the NAE than vegans, and almost half that of lacto-ovo vegetarians!
So next time someone asks you how you "get your calcium" when they hear you don't consume dairy products or calcium supplments, ask them what their Net Acid Excretion is!
Here's some more research for you:
In a recent study done by my alma mater (Tufts University, published in Journal of Renal Nutrition, Sept. 2008), they measured the acidity in the urine of vegans, lacto-ovo vegetarians and omnivores. They found mean estimated Net Acid Excretion (NAE) values were significantly different: 17.3 +/- 14.5 mEq/day for vegans, 31.3 +/- 8.5 mEq/day for lacto-ovo vegetarians, and 42.6 +/- 13.2 mEq/day for omnivores (analysis of variance, P = .01).
Net Acid Excretion (NAE) is a measurement of blood acidity which is largely due to dietary factors. Many studies have shown an strong positive "inverse" relationship between NAE and bone density. In other words, people with the highest blood acidity have less dense bones. This recent study shows what a powerful role diet plays in sparing bone loss: meat-eaters had 2&1/2 times the NAE than vegans, and almost half that of lacto-ovo vegetarians!
So next time someone asks you how you "get your calcium" when they hear you don't consume dairy products or calcium supplments, ask them what their Net Acid Excretion is!