To determine the association between dietary protein intake, distribution and measures of functional status within a female older adult population

Abstract

Background: Ageing is associated with a progressive loss of physical function that often leads to a poorer quality of life and an increased risk of mortality in the elderly. The steady decline in skeletal muscle mass and strength, known as sarcopenia, can lead to a 15% reduction in lean body mass by the eighth decade of life. Emerging evidence indicates the protein intake and the distribution of this intake is required to slow the decline in lean body mass and prevent the incidence of sarcopenia. Objective: To determine the association between dietary protein intake, distribution and measures of functional status within a female older adult population Design: Volunteers were recruited to the study and asked to complete 7 day diet diaries. Measures of physical function, hand grip strength test and a sit-to-stand test were performed on all participants to see if there was any associated with their protein intake. Results: No participants managed to achieve an optimal protein intake of 30g per meal (p=<0.05 for all meal times). Only two participants had handgrip strength tests within the reference range and only one participant managed to achieve a sit-to-stand test time within the normal range. Conclusion: Further research is required in this field with a focus on increasing the number of participants recruited. Key words: Protein, sarcopenia, elderly, ageing, muscle strength, muscle mass