Adding Dietary Calcium and Protein Might Prevent Falls and Fractures in Older Adults

The diets of many older adults provide insufficient calcium and protein to maintain bone and muscle mass, which likely raises risk for falls and fractures. Increasing dietary intake of calcium and protein across older populations potentially could prevent more fractures overall than would treating only the highest-risk patients with antiresorptive medications.

For this clinical trial, researchers identified 60 aged-care facilities in Australia, which are similar to assisted-living facilities in the U.S. The facilities (with ≈7000 mostly ambulatory residents) were randomized to enrich their residents' diets with extra servings of milk, yogurt, and cheese or to continue serving their usual menus. All facilities maintained adequate vitamin D in…