title: Dietary Protein in Older Adults: Adequate Daily Intake but Potential for Improved Distribution.
abstract: Daily distribution of dietary protein may be important in protecting against sarcopenia, specifically in terms of per meal amounts relative to a proposed threshold for maximal response. The aims of this study were to determine total and per meal protein intake in older adults, as well as identifying associations with physical activity and sedentary behavior. Three-day food diaries recorded protein intake in 38 participants. Protein distribution, coefficient of variation (CV), and per meal amounts were calculated. Accelerometry was used to collect physical activity data as well as volume and patterns of sedentary time. Average intake was 1.14 g·kg-1·day-1. Distribution was uneven (CV = 0.67), and 79% of participants reported <0.4 g·kg-1protein content in at least 2/3 daily meals. Protein intake was significantly correlated with step count (r= 0.439,p= 0.007) and negatively correlated with sedentary time (r= -0.456,p= 0.005) and Gini index G, which describes the pattern of accumulation of sedentary time (r= -0.421,p= 0.011). Total daily protein intake was sufficient; however, distribution did not align with the current literature; increasing protein intake may help to facilitate optimization of distribution. Associations between protein and other risk factors for sarcopenia may also inform protective strategies.
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. dxt353@bham.ac.uk.|MRC Arthritis Research UK Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. dxt353@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Danielle K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Cardon-Thomas
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. tim.riviere@googlemail.com.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Riviere
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK. zoe.tieges@ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Zoë
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tieges
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. c.a.greig@bham.ac.uk.|MRC Arthritis Research UK Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. c.a.greig@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Carolyn A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Greig
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000178:diet therapy; D057185:Sedentary Behavior
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins
keywords: ageing; physical activity; protein distribution; protein intake; sarcopenia; sedentary behavior