Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Evans WJ. Skeletal muscle loss: cachexia, sarcopenia, and inactivity. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91:1123S–7S.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Doherty TJ. Invited review: aging and sarcopenia. J Appl Physiol. 2003;95:1717–27.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Fried LP, Tangen CM, Walston J, Newman AB, Hirsch C, Gottdiener J, et al. Frailty in older adults: evidence for a phenotype. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2001;56:M146–156.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Cooper C, Dere W, Evans W, Kanis JA, Rizzoli R, Sayer AA, et al. Frailty and sarcopenia: definitions and outcome parameters. Osteoporos Int. 2012;23:1839–48.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Morley JE. Sarcopenia in the elderly. Fam Pract. 2012;29(Suppl 1):i44–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Bauer JM, Sieber CC. Sarcopenia and frailty: a clinician’s controversial point of view. Exp Gerontol. 2008;43:674–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Baum JI, Kim IY, Wolfe RR. Protein consumption and the elderly: what is the optimal level of intake? Nutrients. 2016;8:pii:E359. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8060359.

  8. Rahi B, Colombet Z, Gonzalez-Colaco Harmand M, Dartigues JF, Boirie Y, Letenneur L, et al. Higher protein but not energy intake is associated with a lower prevalence of frailty among community-dwelling older adults in the french three-city cohort. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2016;17:672.e–672.e11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Granic A, Mendonca N, Sayer AA, Hill TR, Davies K, Adamson A, et al. Low protein intake, muscle strength and physical performance in the very old: the Newcastle 85+ Study. Clin Nutr. 2018;37:2260–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Murphy CH, Oikawa SY, Phillips SM. Dietary protein to maintain muscle mass in aging: a case for per-meal protein recommendations. J Frailty Aging. 2016;5:49–58.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Loenneke JP, Loprinzi PD, Murphy CH, Phillips SM. Per meal dose and frequency of protein consumption is associated with lean mass and muscle performance. Clin Nutr. 2016;35:1506–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Oikawa SY, Holloway TM, Phillips SM. The impact of step reduction on muscle health in aging: protein and exercise as countermeasures. Front Nutr. 2019;6:75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Burd NA, Wall BT, van Loon LJ. The curious case of anabolic resistance: old wives’ tales or new fables? J Appl Physiol. 2013;112:1233–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Hess M. Portion photos of popular foods, vol. III. American Dietetic Association: Chicago; 1997.

  15. NEPA/UNICAMP NdEePeA. Tabela Brasileira de Composição de Alimentos - TACO. Campinas, Brasil: NEPA/UNICAMP, 2011.

  16. Murakami K, Livingstone MB. Associations between meal and snack frequency and diet quality in US adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003–12. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2016;116:1101–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Lixandrao ME, Ugrinowitsch C, Bottaro M, Chacon-Mikahil MP, Cavaglieri CR, Min LL, et al. Vastus lateralis muscle cross-sectional area ultrasonography validity for image fitting in humans. J Strength Cond Res. 2014;28:3293–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Phillips WT, Batterham AM, Valenzuela JE, Burkett LN. Reliability of maximal strength testing in older adults. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2004;85:329–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Brown L, Weir J. ASEP procedures recommendation I: accurate assessment of muscular strength and power. J Exerc Physiol. 2001;4:1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Newcomer KL, Krug HE, Mahowald ML. Validity and reliability of the timed-stands test for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic diseases. J Rheumatol. 1993;20:21–27.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Podsiadlo D, Richardson S. The timed “Up & Go”: a test of basic functional mobility for frail elderly persons. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1991;39:142–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Arnold BL, Schmitz RJ. Examination of balance measures produced by the biodex stability system. J Athl Train. 1998;33:323–7.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Bartali B, Frongillo EA, Bandinelli S, Lauretani F, Semba RD, Fried LP, et al. Low nutrient intake is an essential component of frailty in older persons. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2006;61:589–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Mustafa J, Ellison RC, Singer MR, Bradlee ML, Kalesan B, Holick MF, et al. Dietary protein and preservation of physical functioning among middle-aged and older adults in the framingham offspring Study. Am J Epidemiol. 2018;187:1411–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Gray-Donald K, St-Arnaud-McKenzie D, Gaudreau P, Morais JA, Shatenstein B, Payette H. Protein intake protects against weight loss in healthy community-dwelling older adults. J Nutr. 2014;144:321–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Houston DK, Nicklas BJ, Ding J, Harris TB, Tylavsky FA, Newman AB, et al. Dietary protein intake is associated with lean mass change in older, community-dwelling adults: the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;87:150–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Morley JE, Vellas B, van Kan GA, Anker SD, Bauer JM, Bernabei R, et al. Frailty consensus: a call to action. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2013;14:392–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Moore DR, Churchward-Venne TA, Witard O, Breen L, Burd NA, Tipton KD, et al. Protein ingestion to stimulate myofibrillar protein synthesis requires greater relative protein intakes in healthy older versus younger men. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2015;70:57–62.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Areta JL, Burke LM, Ross ML, Camera DM, West DW, Broad EM, et al. Timing and distribution of protein ingestion during prolonged recovery from resistance exercise alters myofibrillar protein synthesis. J Physiol. 2013;591:2319–31.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Farsijani S, Morais JA, Payette H, Gaudreau P, Shatenstein B, Gray-Donald K, et al. Relation between mealtime distribution of protein intake and lean mass loss in free-living older adults of the NuAge study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016;104:694–703.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Farsijani S, Payette H, Morais JA, Shatenstein B, Gaudreau P, Chevalier S. Even mealtime distribution of protein intake is associated with greater muscle strength, but not with 3-y physical function decline, in free-living older adults: the Quebec longitudinal study on Nutrition as a Determinant of Successful Aging (NuAge study). Am J Clin Nutr. 2017;106:113–24.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Pouyet V, Cuvelier G, Benattar L, Giboreau A. A photographic method to measure food item intake. Validation in geriatric institutions. Appetite. 2015;84:11–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. van Staveren WA, de Groot LC, Blauw YH, van der Wielen RP. Assessing diets of elderly people: problems and approaches. Am J Clin Nutr. 1994;59:221S–3S.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

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.

Author information

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

Authors
  1. Ana Paula Hayashi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mariana Dutilh de Capitani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Samara Fernandes Dias
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lívia de Souza Gonçalves
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Alan Lins Fernandes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. José Claudio Jambassi-Filho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Davi Alves de Santana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Manoel Lixandrão
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Renato Tavares dos Santos Pereira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Luiz Riani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Victoria Hevia-Larraín
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Rosa Maria Rodrigues Pereira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Bruno Gualano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Hamilton Roschel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

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.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hamilton Roschel.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

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

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-0618-3

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links