Effects of dietary protein on the composition of weight loss in post-menopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a hypocaloric diet higher in protein can prevent the loss of lean mass that is commonly associated with weight loss.


METHODS
An intervention study comparing a hypocaloric diet moderately high in protein to one lower in protein.


METHODS
Study measurements were taken at the Wake Forest University General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) and Geriatric Research Center (GRC).


METHODS
Twenty-four post-menopausal, obese women (mean age = 58 +/- 6.6 yrs; mean BMI = 33.0 +/- 3.6 kg/m2).


METHODS
Two 20-week hypocaloric diets (both reduced by 2800 kcal/wk) were compared: one maintaining dietary protein intake at 30% of total energy intake (1.2-1.5 g/kg/d; HI PROT), and the other maintaining dietary protein intake at 15% of total energy (0.5-0.7 g/kg/d; LO PROT). The GCRC metabolic kitchen provided lunch and dinner meals which the women picked up 3 days per week and ate outside of the clinic.


METHODS
Body composition, including total body mass, total lean mass, total fat mass, and appendicular lean mass, assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, was measured before and after the diet interventions.


RESULTS
The HI PROT group lost 8.4 +/- 4.5 kg and the LO PROT group lost 11.4 +/- 3.8 kg of body weight (p = 0.11). The mean percentage of total mass lost as lean mass was 17.3% +/- 27.8% and 37.5% +/- 14.6%, respectively (p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Maintaining adequate protein intake may reduce lean mass losses associated with voluntary weight loss in older women.
Gordon
M M
MM
Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
Bopp
M J
MJ
Easter
L
L
Miller
G D
GD
Lyles
M F
MF
Houston
D K
DK
Nicklas
B J
BJ
Kritchevsky
S B
SB
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy*; D017698:Postmenopause; D015431:Weight Loss
D004044:Dietary Proteins