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Increasing physical activity requires increasing energy intake in elderly

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 67, page 894 (2013)Cite this article

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Arnarson et al.1 reported in a recent issue that ingestion of 20 g of whey protein immediately after resistance exercise did not augment lean body mass, strength and physical function in elderly people. Lean body mass, strength and physical function are the most critical measures in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of sarcopenia. The results of the present study are particularly important, as exponentially increase in the number of elderly persons in the new century requires a public health approach to prevent and treat sarcopenia, which has a potential to create epidemic of disability in the future.2 However, we needed to discuss some issues on daily calorie requirement of study population in the study by Arnarson et al.1

Physical activity is an important determinant of energy needs among elderly, but seems to be the most variable component.3 American Dietetic Association recommended adjusting daily calorie requirement among elderly according to the physical activity level.4 Moreover, Hunter et al.5 reported that resistant training increased the total energy expenditure in a group of elderly aged 61–77 years old. The study by Arnarson et al.1 had a study protocol included resistance exercise thrice weekly, inevitably resulting in a marked increase in daily calorie requirement. However, daily calorie intakes in whey protein and control groups were not increased during the course of the study.1 The benefits obtained by the intake of whey protein would possibly be more pronounced when adequate calorie was provided in the study population.

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References

  1. Arnarson A, Gudny Geirsdottir O, Ramel A, Briem K, Jonsson PV, Thorsdottir I . Effects of whey proteins and carbohydrates on the efficacy of resistance training in elderly people: double blind, randomised controlled trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. advance online publication, 13 March 2013; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2013.40.

  2. Roubenoff R . Sarcopenia and its implications for the elderly. Eur J Clin Nutr 2000; 54 (Suppl 3), S40–S47.

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  3. Starling RD, Poehlman ET . Assessment of energy requirements in elderly populations. Eur J Clin Nutr 2000; 54 (Suppl 3), S104–S111.

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  4. McGuire S. US Department of Agriculture and US Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 2010. 7th ed. US Government Printing Office: Washington, DC. January 2011. Adv Nutr 2011; 2: 293–294.

  5. Hunter GR, Wetzstein CJ, Fields DA, Brown A, Bamman MM . Resistance training increases total energy expenditure and free-living physical activity in older adults. J Appl Physiol 2000; 89: 977–984.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatrics, Gulhane School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    U Safer, I Tasci & H Doruk

  2. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    V Binay Safer

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  1. U Safer
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  2. I Tasci
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  3. V Binay Safer
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  4. H Doruk
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Correspondence to U Safer.

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Safer, U., Tasci, I., Binay Safer, V. et al. Increasing physical activity requires increasing energy intake in elderly. Eur J Clin Nutr 67, 894 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2013.113

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