Nutrient-dense protein as a primary dietary strategy in healthy ageing: please sir, may we have more?

Nunes, E. A.; Currier, B. S.; Lim, C.; Phillips, S. M.

doi:10.1017/s0029665120007892

Cited by 19Nutrition and Health in AgingMuscle metabolism and nutritionMuscle Physiology and Disorders

Nutrient-dense protein as a primary dietary strategy in healthy ageing: please sir, may we have more?

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Nunes, E. A., Currier, B. S., Lim, C., Phillips, S. M.·2021·Proceedings of the Nutrition Society

DOI 10.1017/s0029665120007892

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Abstract

A progressive decrement in muscle mass and muscle function, sarcopoenia, accompanies ageing. The loss of skeletal muscle mass and function is the main feature of sarcopoenia. Preventing the loss of muscle mass is relevant since sarcopoenia can have a significant impact on mobility and the quality of life of older people. Dietary protein and physical activity have an essential role in slowing muscle mass loss and helping to maintain muscle function. However, the current recommendations for daily protein ingestion for older persons appear to be too low and are in need of adjustment. In this review, we discuss the skeletal muscle response to protein ingestion, and review the data examining current dietary protein recommendations in the older subjects. Furthermore, we review the concept of protein quality and the important role that nutrient-dense protein (NDP) sources play in meeting overall nutrient requirements and improving dietary quality. Overall, the current evidence endorses an increase in the daily ingestion of protein with emphasis on the ingestion of NDP choices by older adults.

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The optimal daily protein intake level required to optimize skeletal muscle mass gain or maintenance in healthy adults is still largely unclear.
“Particularly, the optimal daily protein intake level required to optimize skeletal muscle mass gain or maintenance in healthy adults, which is still largely unclear.”
From Systematic review and meta-analysis of protein intake to support muscle mass and function in healthy adults (2022) · cites this paper as [11]
The ‘Ageing and protein requirements’ section says the RDA is a minimum to prevent protein loss, not an optimal intake. ‘Optimising protein nutrition’ reports inconsistent findings and calls for further testing, supporting uncertainty about the precise intake for muscle gain or maintenance in older adults. The paper also cites a recommended range of 1.2–1.6 g/kg/day for adults, so it does not establish that the optimum is largely unclear across all healthy adults. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Therefore, our findings reflect mainly the effect of animal-based protein sources.
“Therefore, our findings reflect mainly the effect of animal‐based protein sources. 11”
From Systematic review and meta-analysis of protein intake to support muscle mass and function in healthy adults (2022) · cites this paper as [11]

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BackgroundSelf-citation
Anabolic signaling deficits underlie amino acid resistance of wasting, aging muscle
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Higher compared with lower dietary protein during an energy deficit combined with intense exercise promotes greater lean mass gain and fat mass loss: a randomized trial
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Nutritional interventions to augment resistance training-induced skeletal muscle hypertrophy
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Self-citation
Minced beef is more rapidly digested and absorbed than beef steak, resulting in greater postprandial protein retention in older men
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BackgroundInfluential
Current Concepts and Unresolved Questions in Dietary Protein Requirements and Supplements in Adults
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Leucine, not total protein, content of a supplement is the primary determinant of muscle protein anabolic responses in healthy older women
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“Also, we have shown that the ingestion of 10 g milk protein enriched with 3 g leucine produced a similar myofibrillar protein synthesis (MyoPS) response in comparison with 25 g whey protein isolate containing 3 g leucine((34)).”
BackgroundInfluential
Leucine supplementation enhances integrative myofibrillar protein synthesis in free-living older men consuming lower- and higher-protein diets: a parallel-group crossover study
Murphy, C. H., Saddler, N. I., Devries, M. C., McGlory, C., Baker, S. K., & Phillips, S. M. (2016) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.3945/ajcn.116.136424 · Cited by 133 · see citing works
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The effects of dietary protein intake on appendicular lean mass and muscle function in elderly men: A 10-wk randomized controlled trial
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Self-citation
The anabolic response to resistance exercise and a protein-rich meal is not diminished by age
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Changes in Kidney Function Do Not Differ Between Healthy Adults Consuming Higher-Compared with Lower- or Normal-Protein Diets: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
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Variables Influencing the Effectiveness of Creatine Supplementation as a Therapeutic Intervention for Sarcopenia
Candow, D. G., Forbes, S. C., Chilibeck, P. D., Cornish, S. M., Antonio, J., & Kreider, R. B. (2019) · Frontiers in Nutrition · doi:10.3389/fnut.2019.00124 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Dietary Protein Requirement of Men >65 Years Old Determined by the Indicator Amino Acid Oxidation Technique Is Higher than the Current Estimated Average Requirement
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Soy-dairy protein blend or whey protein isolate ingestion induces similar postexercise muscle mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling and protein synthesis responses in older men
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Protein Supplementation Has Minimal Effects on Muscle Adaptations during Resistance Exercise Training in Young Men: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial
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Method
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Systematic review and meta-analysis of protein intake to support muscle mass and function in healthy adults
Nunes, E. A., Colenso‐Semple, L., McKellar, S. R., Yau, T., Ali, M. U., Fitzpatrick‐Lewis, D., Sherifali, D., Gaudichon, C., Tomé, D., Atherton, P. J., et al. (2022) · Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle · doi:10.1002/jcsm.12922 · Cited by 280 · see citing works
“Therefore, our findings reflect mainly the effect of animal-based protein sources.(11) Approximately a quar-”
BackgroundSelf-citation
Effects of Protein Supplementation Associated with Resistance Training on Body Composition and Muscle Strength in Older Adults: A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews with Meta-analyses
Vieira, A. F., Santos, J. S., Costa, R. R., Cadore, E. L., & Macedo, R. C. O. (2022) · Sports Medicine · doi:10.1007/s40279-022-01704-0 · Cited by 25 · see citing works

Authors: Nunes, E. A., Currier, B. S., Lim, C., & Phillips, S. M.
Affiliations: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (BR)
McMaster University (CA)
Corresponding author: Phillips, S. M.
ORCID: Nunes, E. A.
Currier, B. S.
Lim, C.
Phillips, S. M.
Venue: Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published: 2020-10-14
Volume: 80
Issue: 2
Pages: 264-277
ISSN: 0029-6651 (ISSN-L)
1475-2719
DOI: 10.1017/s0029665120007892
OpenAlex: W3091967282
Cited by: 19
References: 37
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3
FWCI: 0.22
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: bronze
doi.org
Licence: www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified)
Locations: Proceedings of The Nutrition Society (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Research Foundation
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (2019-8, 308584/2019-8)
National Research Foundation of Korea
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
Keywords: sarcopenia, healthy aging, older adults, protein intake, protein recommendations, protein quality, skeletal muscle mass, muscle function, mobility (physical function), physical activity, diet quality
MeSH terms: Healthy Aging, Nutrients, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Diet, Dietary Proteins, Humans, Quality of Life, Muscle, Skeletal

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Nutrient-dense protein as a primary dietary strategy in healthy ageing: please sir, may we have more?

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