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Protein, malnutrition and wasting disorders

Number of high-protein containing meals correlates with muscle mass in pre-frail and frail elderly

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 74, pages 1047–1053 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

Aging is accompanied by the inability to optimally respond to anabolic stimulus of nutrition, with consequent loss of muscle mass and functionality. It has been speculated that not only total protein intake, but also the per meal protein dose may have important implications to protein balance and, hence, muscle mass in middle-aged and older adults, but evidence is lacking in a more vulnerable population such as the frail elderly. The aim was to investigate possible associations between total protein intake and its per meal dose with multiple measures of muscle mass, strength, and functionality in a cohort of pre-frail and frail elderly individuals.

Methods

One-hundred-and-fifty-seven pre-frail and frail elderly individuals were assessed for total and per meal protein intake (food diaries), total and appendicular lean mass (DXA), vastus lateralis cross-sectional area [(CSA) B-mode ultrasound], and muscle function [leg-press and bench press 1-RM, timed-stands test, timed-up-and-go test, handgrip, and risk of falls (Biodex Balance System®)].

Results

Protein intake and number of meals with either ≥20 g or ≥30 g of protein were significantly associated (after controlling for confounding factors) with greater total and appendicular lean mass and vastus lateralis CSA.

Conclusions

We found that not only total protein intake but also the number of high-protein containing meals are associated with muscle mass in frail and pre-frail elderly.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to all who participated and contributed to the present research.

Funding

This work was supported by Fundação do Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (CNPq), and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)—Finance Code 001.

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Bruno Gualano, Hamilton Roschel

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Applied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group - School of Physical Education and Sport, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Ana Paula Hayashi, Mariana Dutilh de Capitani, Samara Fernandes Dias, Lívia de Souza Gonçalves, Alan Lins Fernandes, José Claudio Jambassi-Filho, Davi Alves de Santana, Manoel Lixandrão, Renato Tavares dos Santos Pereira, Luiz Riani, Victoria Hevia-Larraín, Bruno Gualano & Hamilton Roschel

  2. Rheumatology Division, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Ana Paula Hayashi, Rosa Maria Rodrigues Pereira, Bruno Gualano & Hamilton Roschel

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  1. Ana Paula Hayashi
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Contributions

APH, BG, and HR designed the research, analyzed the data, and wrote the paper. APH, SFD, MDC, LSG, ALF, JCJ, DAS, ML, RTSP, LR, and RMRP conducted the research. ML performed statistical analysis. All authors have seen and approved the final version of the manuscript for publication.

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Correspondence to Hamilton Roschel.

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Hayashi, A.P., de Capitani, M.D., Dias, S.F. et al. Number of high-protein containing meals correlates with muscle mass in pre-frail and frail elderly. Eur J Clin Nutr 74, 1047–1053 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-0618-3

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