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Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Evaluation of Amino Acid Consumption in Cultured Bone Cells and Isolated Bone Shafts
Published on: April 13, 2022
The effects of dietary protein and amino acids on skeletal metabolism
Jessica D Bihuniak1, Karl L Insogna2
1Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269-1101, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06269-1101, USA.
Abstract:
Dietary protein is required for optimal skeletal growth and maturation. Although Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) exist for global dietary protein intake, the level and sources of dietary protein that are optimal for skeletal health over the life continuum have not been established. This is partly due to the difficulty in quantifying the effects of variable levels of a nutrient's intake over a lifetime as well as the complex nature of the relationships between dietary protein and calcium economy. Areas of current uncertainty include the precise source and amount of dietary protein required for optimal skeletal accretion and maintenance of skeletal mass, as well as the site-specific effects of dietary protein. The cellular and molecular mechanisms that underpin the actions of dietary protein on mineral metabolism and skeletal homeostasis remain unclear. This review attempts to summarize recent data bearing on these questions.
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