Protein Requirements during Aging

Protein recommendations for elderly, both men and women, are based on nitrogen balance studies. They are set at 0.66 and 0.8 g/kg/day as the estimated average requirement (EAR) and recommended dietary allowance (RDA), respectively, similar to young adults. This recommendation is based on single line...

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Main Authors: Glenda Courtney-Martin, Ronald O. Ball, Paul B. Pencharz, Rajavel Elango
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2016-08-01
Series:Nutrients
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/8/8/492
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spelling doaj-51b8f540f62346408b6e905c8e8d19122020-11-24T21:05:42ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432016-08-018849210.3390/nu8080492nu8080492Protein Requirements during AgingGlenda Courtney-Martin0Ronald O. Ball1Paul B. Pencharz2Rajavel Elango3Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, CanadaAgricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, CanadaResearch Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, CanadaDepartment of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, CanadaProtein recommendations for elderly, both men and women, are based on nitrogen balance studies. They are set at 0.66 and 0.8 g/kg/day as the estimated average requirement (EAR) and recommended dietary allowance (RDA), respectively, similar to young adults. This recommendation is based on single linear regression of available nitrogen balance data obtained at test protein intakes close to or below zero balance. Using the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method, we estimated the protein requirement in young adults and in both elderly men and women to be 0.9 and 1.2 g/kg/day as the EAR and RDA, respectively. This suggests that there is no difference in requirement on a gender basis or on a per kg body weight basis between younger and older adults. The requirement estimates however are ~40% higher than the current protein recommendations on a body weight basis. They are also 40% higher than our estimates in young men when calculated on the basis of fat free mass. Thus, current recommendations may need to be re-assessed. Potential rationale for this difference includes a decreased sensitivity to dietary amino acids and increased insulin resistance in the elderly compared with younger individuals.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/8/8/492elderlyproteinrequirementsindicator amino acid oxidation
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Glenda Courtney-Martin
Ronald O. Ball
Paul B. Pencharz
Rajavel Elango
spellingShingle Glenda Courtney-Martin
Ronald O. Ball
Paul B. Pencharz
Rajavel Elango
Protein Requirements during Aging
Nutrients
elderly
protein
requirements
indicator amino acid oxidation
author_facet Glenda Courtney-Martin
Ronald O. Ball
Paul B. Pencharz
Rajavel Elango
author_sort Glenda Courtney-Martin
title Protein Requirements during Aging
title_short Protein Requirements during Aging
title_full Protein Requirements during Aging
title_fullStr Protein Requirements during Aging
title_full_unstemmed Protein Requirements during Aging
title_sort protein requirements during aging
publisher MDPI AG
series Nutrients
issn 2072-6643
publishDate 2016-08-01
description Protein recommendations for elderly, both men and women, are based on nitrogen balance studies. They are set at 0.66 and 0.8 g/kg/day as the estimated average requirement (EAR) and recommended dietary allowance (RDA), respectively, similar to young adults. This recommendation is based on single linear regression of available nitrogen balance data obtained at test protein intakes close to or below zero balance. Using the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method, we estimated the protein requirement in young adults and in both elderly men and women to be 0.9 and 1.2 g/kg/day as the EAR and RDA, respectively. This suggests that there is no difference in requirement on a gender basis or on a per kg body weight basis between younger and older adults. The requirement estimates however are ~40% higher than the current protein recommendations on a body weight basis. They are also 40% higher than our estimates in young men when calculated on the basis of fat free mass. Thus, current recommendations may need to be re-assessed. Potential rationale for this difference includes a decreased sensitivity to dietary amino acids and increased insulin resistance in the elderly compared with younger individuals.
topic elderly
protein
requirements
indicator amino acid oxidation
url http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/8/8/492
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