Nutritional Interventions: Dietary Protein Needs and Influences on Skeletal Muscle of Older Adults

Background: This narrative review describes foundational and emerging evidence of how dietary protein intakes may influence muscle-related attributes of older adults. Methods: PubMed was used to identify pertinent research. Results: Among medically stable older adults, protein intakes below the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) (0.8 g/kg body weight [BW]/d) exacerbate age-related reductions in muscle size, quality, and function. Dietary patterns with total protein intakes at or moderately above the RDA, including one or preferably more meals containing sufficient dietary protein to maximize protein anabolism, promote muscle size and function. Some observational studies suggest protein intakes from 1.0 to 1.6 g/kg BW/d may promote greater muscle strength and function more so than muscle size. Experimental findings from randomized controlled feeding trials indicate protein intakes greater than the RDA (averaging ~1.3 g/kg BW/d) do not influence indices of lean body mass or muscle and physical functions with non-stressed conditions, but positively influence changes in lean body mass with purposeful catabolic (energy restriction) or anabolic (resistance exercise training) stressors. Among older adults with diagnosed medical conditions or acute illness, specialized protein or amino acid supplements that stimulate muscle protein synthesis and improve protein nutritional status may attenuate the loss of muscle mass and function and improve survival of malnourished patients. Observational studies favor animal versus plant protein sources for sarcopenia-related parameters. Conclusions: Quantity, quality, and patterning of dietary protein consumed by older adults with varied metabolic states, and hormonal and health status influence the nutritional needs and therapeutic use of protein to support muscle size and function.