CLINICAL EVIDENCE OVERVIEW
In a 2001 study of 30 healthy adult men with a mean age of 36.2 years, participants received 300 mg of the MBP bone supplement in a prepared beverage over 16 days(1). The results showed that MBP promoted bone formation and suppressed bone resorption, while maintaining the balance of bone remodeling.
In a 2001 study(2), 33 healthy women (with a mean age of 28.8 years) received 40 mg of MBP per day over six months. Researchers found that MBP supplementation increased participants bone mineral density (BMD). “Daily MBP supplementation of 40 mg in healthy adult women can significantly increase their BMD [bone mineral density] independent of their dietary intake of minerals and vitamins; this increase in BMD might be primarily mediated through inhibition of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption by MBP supplementation.”
A subsequent report published in a 2002 issue of Bioscience, Biotechnology & Biochemistry(3) explained, “It appears that 40 mg per day of MBP supplementation is effective in promoting bone metabolism and an increase in BMD, at least in their radius. MBP can thus be considered [a bone health supplement] capable of increasing peak bone mass and reducing further risk of osteoporosis in premenopausal women.”
In 2005, researchers gave 40 mg of the MBP bone supplement or a placebo to 32 healthy menopausal women (with a mean age of 50.5 years) for six months(4). They concluded: “These results suggested that MBP supplementation was effective in preventing bone loss in menopausal women and that this improvement in BMD may be primarily mediated through the inhibition of bone resorption while maintaining the balance of bone remodeling by MBP supplementation.”
Researchers, in 2007, administered 40 mg of MBP or a placebo to 35 healthy adult women (with a mean age of 21.3 years) each day for six months(5). The authors found: “These results suggested that MBP supplementation was effective in increasing BMD in young women and that this increase in BMD may be primarily mediated through the promotion of bone formation and inhibition of bone resorption by MBP supplementation.
Scientists, in 2010, gave 40 mg of MBP to elderly women (with a mean age of 65 to 86 years) for 12 months(6). The findings? “MBP reduced markers of bone loss, particularly in the lower extremities. Reduced resorption of bone was also associated with moderate-intensity/duration exercise, MBP therapy interacting significantly with habitual physical activity.”
References
- Toba Y, Takada Y, Matsuoka Y, et al. Milk basic protein promotes bone formation and suppresses bone resorption in healthy adult men. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2001;65(6):1353–1357.
- Aoe S, Toba Y, Yamamura J, Kawakami H, et al. Controlled trial of the effects of milk basic protein (MBP) supplementation on bone metabolism in healthy adult women. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2001;65(4):913–918.
- Yamamura J, Aoe S, Toba Y, et al. Milk basic protein (MBP) increases radial bone mineral density in healthy adult women. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2002;66(3):702–704.
- Aoe S, Koyama T, Toba Y, et al. A controlled trial of the effect of milk basic protein (MBP) supplementation on bone metabolism in healthy menopausal women. Osteoporos Int. 2005;16(12):2123–2128.
- Uenishi K, Ishida H, Toba Y, et al. Milk basic protein increases bone mineral density and improves bone metabolism in healthy young women. Osteoporos Int. 2007;18(3):385–390.
- Aoyagi Y, Park H, Park S, et al. Interactive effects of milk basic protein supplements and habitual physical activity on bone health in older women: A 1-year randomized controlled trial. Int Dairy J. 2010;20:724–730.