title: Assessment of protein requirement in octogenarian women with use of the indicator amino acid oxidation technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data on the protein requirements of elderly adults are limited, because it is impractical to conduct repeated nitrogen balance protocols in these vulnerable humans.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to determine the dietary protein requirement of elderly women by using the recently developed minimally invasive indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six white women aged 80-87 y [mean ± SEM: 82 ± 1 y and body mass index (in kg/m²) 26 ± 2] completed a 3-d protocol 7 times. Each woman consumed an adaptation diet for 2 d and on day 3 consumed a complete test diet with a crystalline amino acid mixture containing 1 of 7 protein intakes (0.1, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, 1.5, or 1.8 g · kg⁻¹ · d⁻¹) tested randomly. A group-based protein requirement was assessed by using a nonlinear mixed model of protein intake and L-[1-¹³C]phenylalanine oxidation. The breakpoint, at which there was no further decline in the rate of appearance of ¹³C in the breath, was used as an index of the mean protein requirement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean protein requirement (95% CI) was 0.85 (0.60, 1.09) g · kg⁻¹ · d⁻¹. This requirement is 29% higher than the current Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for adults of 0.66 g · kg⁻¹ · d⁻¹ based on the nitrogen balance technique, although the 95% CI includes the current EAR. The corresponding adequate protein allowance of 1.15 (0.77, 1.54) g · kg⁻¹ · d⁻¹ is 44% higher, although the 95% CI includes the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 0.80 g · kg⁻¹ · d⁻¹.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Notwithstanding uncertainty about the validity of the use of the IAAO technique to assess protein requirements, the results of this study with octogenarian women suggest that the current EAR and RDA for elderly women may be underestimated. The limitations of this short-term, noninvasive method underscore the need for new research that uses alternative experimental designs and measuring physiologic, morphologic, and health-related outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Nutrition Science (MT and WWC) and Statistics (GPM), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; the Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (RE); the Department of Paediatrics and Nutrition Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada (PBP); and the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutrition Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (ROB).
authors.forename: Minghua
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: McCabe
authors.forename: Rajavel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Elango
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Pencharz
authors.forename: Ronald O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: Wayne W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001944:Breath Tests; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D007700:Kinetics; D015969:National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, U.S., Health and Medicine Division; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D050177:Overweight / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances; D014481:United States; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D010649:Phenylalanine