Protein intake and injury outcomes among fallers in the Women's Health Initiative's Objective Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health in Older Women Study

Shelby G Ziller; Leslie K Dennis; Jeannette M Beasley; Andrea Z LaCroix; Jean Wactawski-Wende; Linda Snetselaar; Jane A Cauley; Bernhard Haring; Abdul Tawab Saljuqi; Jennifer W Bea

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0353769

Back

Protein intake and injury outcomes among fallers in the Women's Health Initiative's Objective Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health in Older Women Study

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Protein intake and injury outcomes among fallers in the Women's Health Initiative's Objective Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health in Older Women Study

Shelby G Ziller, Leslie K Dennis, Jeannette M Beasley, Andrea Z LaCroix, Jean Wactawski-Wende, Linda Snetselaar, Jane A Cauley, Bernhard Haring, Abdul Tawab Saljuqi and Jennifer W Bea

PloS one, Vol.21(7), e0353769

07/01/2026

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0353769

PMID: 42485356

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0353769View

Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Falls among older adults are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs; therefore, it is critical to assess modifiable risk factors. This study aimed to determine if low protein intake among older women was associated with injuries among fallers. The Women's Health Initiative ancillary studies, Live Long Study (LLS), Food Intake (FI), and Objective Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health in Older Women study (OPACH) were combined for analyses (n = 6,580; n = 1,285 fallers). Protein intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaires at LLS/FI/OPACH baseline. Participants completed fall calendars for 13 months and self-reported injuries in interviews. Logistic regression determined odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for risk of injurious falls and falls with fracture. Diabetes medication use had a significant interaction between protein density and fall with any injury; thus, models were stratified. Of the participants who fell, 841 (65.4%) fell without injury, 444 (34.6%) fell with injury, and 70 (7.7%) fell with fracture. Lower protein density (<15% calories from protein) increased risk of fracture from falling (OR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.02-2.92) compared to those with higher protein density (≥15% calories from protein). Among participants with diabetes medication use and lower protein density, the OR for any injury from falling was 5.54 (95% CI: 1.79-17.19) compared to those with higher protein density though based on a small subgroup. Lower protein density increased risk of injurious falls. Dietary and medication screening may facilitate selection and tailoring for behavioral falls prevention to reduce injurious falls and fractures.

Accidental Falls - statistics & numerical data

Aged

Aged, 80 and over

Dietary Proteins - administration & dosage

Female

Fractures, Bone - epidemiology

Humans

Motor Activity

Risk Factors

Women's Health

Wounds and Injuries - epidemiology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Protein intake and injury outcomes among fallers in the Women's Health Initiative's Objective Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health in Older Women Study
Creators: Shelby G Ziller - University of Arizona
Leslie K Dennis - University of Arizona
Jeannette M Beasley - New York University
Andrea Z LaCroix - Human Longevity (United States)
Jean Wactawski-Wende - University at Buffalo, State University of New York
Linda Snetselaar - University of Iowa
Jane A Cauley - University of Pittsburgh
Bernhard Haring - Saarland University
Abdul Tawab Saljuqi - University of Arizona
Jennifer W Bea - University of Arizona
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: PloS one, Vol.21(7), e0353769
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0353769
PMID: 42485356
NLM abbreviation: PLoS One
ISSN: 1932-6203
eISSN: 1932-6203
Publisher: PLoS
Grant note: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: R01HL105065 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through: 75N92021D00001, 75N92021D00002, 75N92021D00003, 75N92021D00004, 75N92021D00005 National Institute on Aging: R00AG035002
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The WHI program is funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through contracts 75N92021D00001, 75N92021D00002, 75N92021D00003, 75N92021D00004, 75N92021D00005. Short list of WHI investigators: Program Office: (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland) Jacques Rossouw, Jared Reis, and Candice Price Clinical Coordinating Center: (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA) Garnet Anderson, Ross Prentice, Andrea LaCroix, and Charles Kooperberg Steering Committee and Academic Centers: (University of Alabama at Birmingham) Gretchen Wells; (Albert Einstein College of Medicine) Yasmin Mossavar-Rahmani; (University at Buffalo) Amy Millen; (University at Buffalo) Jean Wactawski-Wende; (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center) Marian Neuhouser; (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center) Holly Harris; (University of Massachusetts) Brian Silver; (University of North Carolina) Nora Franceschini; (Stanford Prevention Research Center) Marcia L. Stefanick; (The Ohio State University) Electra Paskett; (Wake Forest University) Mara Vitolins For a list of all the investigators who have contributed to WHI science, please visit: https://www.whi.org/doc/WHI-Investigator-Long-List.pdf The WHI-LLS and WHI-OPACH were supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (grant R01HL105065, LaCroix PI). The WHI-FI was supported by the National Institute on Aging (grant R00AG035002, Beasley PI).
Language: English
Date published: 07/01/2026
Academic Unit: Epidemiology; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9985183559102771

Metrics

1 Record Views