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Protein intake in older people

Why, how much and how?

Proteinzufuhr im Alter

Warum, wieviel und wie?

Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The protein intake of older people has gained increasing scientific interest as a potential factor to delay the age-associated decline in muscle mass and consequently to counteract the development of sarcopenia. The skeletal muscle of older people seems less responsive to the anabolic stimulus of protein intake. Therefore, higher protein needs are discussed to overcome this anabolic resistance and to maintain muscle mass as far as possible. Besides the total amount of protein consumed, the distribution, quality and timing in relation to physical exercise are considered relevant; however, deriving clear recommendations for clinical practice is still difficult as positive results of protein intake on muscle metabolism found in experimental trials cannot simply be transferred to everyday conditions and randomized controlled trials often failed to show improvements in muscular outcomes related to protein supplementation. The effectiveness of protein supplementation may depend on functional resources of the older persons and the habitual protein intake. There is still a need for studies with well-defined protocols and populations to further elucidate the role of protein in the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia.

Zusammenfassung

Die Proteinzufuhr gewinnt als potenzieller Faktor, um die altersbedingte Abnahme von Muskelmasse zu verzögern und der Entwicklung von Sarkopenie entgegenzuwirken, zunehmendes Interesse. Bei älteren Menschen scheint der Skelettmuskel weniger stark auf den anabolen Stimulus der Proteinzufuhr anzusprechen. Zur Überwindung dieser anabolen Resistenz und zur bestmöglichen Erhaltung der Muskelmasse wird daher ein höherer Proteinbedarf im Alter diskutiert. Neben der Gesamtmenge werden auch die Verteilung über die Mahlzeiten und die Proteinqualität sowie der Aufnahmezeitpunkt in Relation zu körperlicher Aktivität als relevant erachtet. Es ist jedoch immer noch schwierig, klare Empfehlungen für den klinischen Alltag abzuleiten, da die positiven Effekte kurzzeitiger Proteingaben auf den Muskelstoffwechsel nicht ohne Weiteres auf Alltagsbedingungen übertragbar sind und randomisiert-kontrollierte Studien oft keine Verbesserung von Muskelparametern durch eine Proteinsupplementation zeigen. Die Wirksamkeit scheint von den funktionellen Reserven der älteren Personen und der Höhe ihrer gewohnheitsmäßigen Proteinzufuhr abzuhängen. Es besteht nach wie vor Bedarf an Studien mit gut definierten Protokollen und Stichproben, um die Rolle von Protein in der Prävention und Behandlung von Sarkopenie zu klären.

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Correspondence to Eva Kiesswetter.

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E. Kiesswetter, C.C. Sieber and D. Volkert declare that they have no competing interests.

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For this article no studies with human participants or animals were performed by any of the authors. All studies performed were in accordance with the ethical standards indicated in each case.

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Kiesswetter, E., Sieber, C.C. & Volkert, D. Protein intake in older people. Z Gerontol Geriat 53, 285–289 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-020-01723-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-020-01723-4

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