title: Animal protein intake is associated with higher-level functional capacity in elderly adults: the Ohasama study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the association between protein intake and risk of higher-level functional decline in older community-dwelling adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ohasama Town, Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Residents (N = 1,007; mean age 67.4 ± 5.5) free of functional decline at baseline; follow-up was conducted for 7 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nutrient and food intakes were determined using a validated 141-item food frequency questionnaire. Participants were divided into quartiles according to intake levels of total, animal, and plant protein. Subscales of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence subscales were used to assess higher-level functional decline. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the future risk of higher-level functional decline in relation to protein intake, with lowest protein intake as reference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 24.4% of eligible participants reported declines in higher-level functional capacity. After adjustment for putative confounding factors, men in the highest quartile of animal protein intake had significantly lower risk of higher-level functional decline than those in the lowest quartile (odds ratio (OR) = 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.20-0.83; P for trend .01). These associations were not seen in women (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.41-1.34; P for trend .37). No consistent association was observed between plant protein intake and future higher-level functional decline in either sex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher protein, particularly animal protein, was associated with lower risk of decline in higher-level functional capacity in older men. Animal protein intake may be a modifiable indicator for early detection and prevention of higher-level functional decline in elderly adults.
authors.affiliation: Section of the Dietary Reference Intakes, Department of Nutritional Epidemiology, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Eri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsubota-Utsugi
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kikuya
authors.forename: Michihiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Ryuske
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosaka
authors.forename: Hirohito
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Metoki
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Ayumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurimoto
authors.forename: Takuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asayama
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Takayoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohkubo
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins
keywords: Japanese; animal protein; functional capacity; healthy community dwelling; plant protein