Bodybuilders should know that high protein diets cause bone loss. It is important to get adequate calcium in the diet. Luckily, dairy and protein powders often come with significant forms of calcium already. One may wonder though if taking calcium supplements is really effective against stopping the bone loss as a result of a high protein diet.

A study a few years ago was done on high protein diets and bone loss for 60 overweight people trying to lose weight. Macronutrient profiles and excercise were identical among all participants. What differed was the ptrotein sources and various levels of calcium consumption. Subjects underwent urine tests on week 0, 12, and 16 and also to blood tests for those weeks. The results of the study showed bone loss was evident in the urine, but that high calcium seems to have helped offset against the bone loss.