High Protein Intake May Not Benefit Older Adults

Consuming more protein than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of 0.8 g/kg/d is not needed to maintain protein anabolism in older men who are functionally limited, according to a new study.

For their study, the researchers evaluated 92 men aged 65 years or older with a usual protein intake of 0.83 g/kg/d or less within the RDA.
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Each participant was randomly assigned to a 6-month controlled diet of 0.8 g/kg/d of protein plus placebo, 1.3 g/kg/d of protein plus placebo, 0.8 g/kg/d of protein plus testosterone enanthate (100 mg weekly), or 1.3 g/kg/d of protein plus testosterone. Custom-prepared meals and supplements were provided.

Results revealed that there were no between-group differences in changes in lean body mass (0.68 lb), appendicular lean mass (0.09 lb), trunk lean mass (0.53 lb), muscle strength and power, walking speed and stair-climbing power, health-related quality of life, fatigue, and well-being, regardless of protein intake and testosterone supplementation.

However, fat mass was found to be lower in participants with a higher protein intake vs those given the RDA, with a between-group difference of -2.47 lb.

“Protein intake exceeding the RDA did not increase LBM, muscle performance, physical function, or well-being measures or augment anabolic response to testosterone in older men with physical function limitations whose usual protein intakes were within the RDA,” the researchers wrote.

“The RDA for protein is sufficient to maintain LBM, and protein intake exceeding the RDA does not promote LBM accretion or augment anabolic response to testosterone,” they concluded.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Bhasin S, Apovian CM, Travison TG, et al. Effect of protein intake on lean body mass in functionally limited older men: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2018;178(4):530-541. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.0008.