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Moderate evidenceJoints & skin

Milk Basic Protein (MBP)

A minor whey fraction, dosed at only 40 mg a day, that raised bone mineral density in several small randomized trials in women. The trials are consistent but tiny, short, and largely run by or with the company that developed the ingredient.

Evidence last reviewed: August 2026

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What the science says

  • Bone mineral density in adult women Moderate evidence

    In a six-month randomized trial of 33 healthy adult women, 40 mg/day of MBP significantly increased radial bone mineral density compared with placebo. An independent randomized trial in Chinese young women reported a similar effect on bone density and bone metabolism markers.

  • Bone metabolism after menopause Limited evidence

    A controlled trial in healthy menopausal women found that MBP supplementation shifted bone turnover markers in a favourable direction. The samples were small and the follow-up short relative to the years over which bone loss actually happens.

  • Fractures Limited evidence

    No trial has been large enough or long enough to show whether MBP reduces fractures, which is the outcome that matters clinically.

Dosage & safety

Studied dose40 mg of MBP per day was the dose used in essentially all of the published trials, taken for 6–12 months.
SafetyA milk-derived protein: avoid with cow's milk protein allergy. The dose is small and generally well tolerated, with no specific adverse effects reported in the trials. It is not a substitute for calcium, vitamin D, resistance exercise, or prescribed osteoporosis treatment.

Scientific references

Where to buy

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