Sufficient protein intake is important for older adults to prevent sarcopenia. Better insight into dietary characteristics may be helpful to improve daily protein intake. Therefore, this study aimed to compare characteristics of community-dwelling older adults with distinct amounts of daily protein intake. Baseline data of older adults (age >55 years) from eight intervention studies were pooled. Protein intake was measured using 24-h recalls or 3-day food records. Participants were stratified into one of four different groups based on their habitual protein intake (1.2 g/kg/d). Protein intake per meal, animal-versus plant-based protein intake, daily protein distribution patterns (e.g. spread or pulse) and the protein intake from distinct protein-rich food categories (meat, fish, dairy, grains and others) were assessed. Among 814 participants (69 ± 9 years, 54 % male), mean protein intake was 0.98 ± 0.30 g/kg/d. 28 % (n = 227) of the population had a protein intake 1.2 g/kg/d. Higher protein intake groups had a lower body weight and BMI and a higher energy intake per day. Although protein intake distribution patterns did not differ across groups, meals with >20 g or >0.4 g protein per kilogram bodyweight per meal more often occurred in the higher protein intake groups. Protein intake was the lowest at breakfast followed by lunch and dinner, in all groups. Higher protein intake groups consumed a higher proportion of animal-based protein sources. Distinct protein intake groups showed comparable intake distribution patterns, with lowest protein consumption at breakfast and highest at dinner. Nevertheless, the highest protein intake group more often consumed >20 gr of protein per meal, indicating that a focus on the absolute amount of protein per meal, particularly at breakfast, could further optimize daily protein intake in older adults.

Background: Adequate animal-based protein intake can attenuate exercise induced-muscle damage (EIMD) in young adults. We examined the effects of 13 days plant-based (pea) protein supplementation compared to whey protein and placebo on EIMD in active older adults. Methods: 47 Physically active older adults (60+ years) were randomly allocated to the following groups: (I) whey protein (25 g/day), (II) pea protein (25 g/day) or (III) iso-caloric placebo. Blood concentrations of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength and muscle soreness were measured prior to and 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after a long-distance walking bout (20–30 km). Results: Participants walked 20–30 km and 2 dropped out, leaving n = 15 per subgroup. The whey group showed a significant attenuation of the increase in EIMD at 24 h post-exercise compared to the pea and placebo group (CK concentration: 175 ± 90 versus 300 ± 309 versus 330 ± 165, p = p < 0.001). No differences in LDH levels, muscle strength, skeletal muscle mass and muscle soreness were observed across groups (all p-values > 0.05). Conclusions: Thirteen days of pea protein supplementation (25 g/day) does not attenuate EIMD in older adults following a single bout of prolonged walking exercise, whereas the whey protein supplementation group showed significantly lower post-exercise CK concentrations.

Adequate protein intake is important to maintain skeletal muscle mass in older adults and to prevent sarcopenia. Insect-based supplements were recently introduced to the market as an environmentally friendly protein alternative. We examined the effect of daily supplementation of lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus) protein for 11 consecutive weeks on muscle mass and muscle strength in older adults. In this randomized controlled trial, 70 physically active older adults (>60 years) were randomly allocated to three groups: (I) lesser mealworm protein, (II) whey protein or (III) iso-caloric placebo. Participants received 11 weeks of supplements two times a day (30 gram/day). Muscle mass, fat mass, leg muscle strength and handgrip strength were measured at baseline and after 11 weeks of supplementation. Of the 70 participants, 59 completed the supplementation period (mealworm n = 16; whey n = 23; iso-caloric placebo n = 20). Overall, skeletal muscle mass increased from 29.0 ± 6.2 kg to 29.3 ± 6.1 kg, with a significantly more profound increase in the lesser mealworm group (+0.67 [0.20-1.14] kg) compared to the whey (+0.03 [-0.20 - 0.28] kg) and placebo group (+0.30 [0.03 - 0.63] kg, P_group*time = 0.030). Fat mass and maximum handgrip strength decreased over time, whereas one-repetition maximum (1RM) leg muscle strength did not change pre- versus post-intervention. No group differences, nor interaction effects, were observed for fat mass, leg muscle strength and handgrip strength CONCLUSION: 11-weeks of lesser mealworm protein supplementation induced an increase in skeletal muscle mass compared to whey protein supplementation and iso-caloric placebo in physically active older adults. No differences among groups were observed for changes in muscle strength.

We compared the effect of 12 weeks lesser mealworm-based (Alphitobius diaperinus) protein supplementation to whey protein and placebo supplementation on Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage (EIMD) after long-distance walking in older adults. in this randomized controlled trial, 70 physically active older adults (>60 years) were randomly allocated to the following groups: I) lesser mealworm protein, II) whey protein or III) iso-caloric placebo. Participants received supplements 11 weeks before and 1 week during a 3-day long-distance walking challenge (30-50 km per day). Blood concentrations of creatinine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), handgrip strength and muscle soreness were measured pre-exercise and directly after each walking bout. Significant elevations of CK concentrations (103 [76-161] U/l to 758 [342-1104] U/l, p < 0.001) and LDH concentrations (202 [175-220] to 283 [252-339] U/l, p < 0.001) were observed following 7h45 min ± 11 min of walking exercise per day, but the magnitude of this effect did not differ among suppletion groups. Hand grip strength decreased significantly (p < 0.001) while muscle soreness increased (p = 0.002) after the first walking day compared to pre-exercise, with no group differences. 12-weeks of lesser mealworm-based protein supplementation (30 g/day) does not attenuate exercise induced muscle damage in older adults following three days of prolonged walking exercise in comparison to placebo or whey protein.

Context: Adequate dietary protein intake contributes to preservation of muscle mass, muscle strength, and healthy aging. Protein supplementation is an effective strategy for increasing protein intake, but its effects are often temporary. Alternatively, whole food dietary modifications can sustainably enhance protein consumption. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effectiveness of whole food interventions on protein intake in older adults and explored which characteristics contributed to its effectiveness. Data Sources: A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, and the Web of Science to identify studies among community-dwelling older adults (aged ≥50 years) that assessed the effect of whole food interventions (≥12 weeks) on daily protein intake (g/day or g/kg/day). Data Extraction: The revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials was used to assess bias. The primary outcome was protein intake. Trials with a control group were included in a random-effects meta-analysis. We included 16 studies (n = 1712 participants, 33% male) in our systematic review. Data analysis: Intervention characteristics associated with success were longer duration (>3 months and up to 6 months), individual counseling sessions, in-person or hybrid delivery, and an absolute protein target (g/day or g/meal). Our meta-analysis (11 studies, n = 1207) revealed a significantly greater increase in daily protein intake (+12.2 g/day, 95% CI: +5.0 to +19.4) and relative protein intake (+0.13 g/kg/day, 95% CI: 0.0 to +0.3) in the whole food intervention group compared with the control group. Conclusions: Whole food interventions can effectively increase protein intake in older adults. Interventions with a longer duration, individual counseling, in-person or hybrid delivery, and absolute protein targets reported greater effects. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO registration No. CRD42023491283.