Association between dietary protein intake and grip strength among adults aged 51 years and over: What We Eat in America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014

Abstract

IntroductionDistributing daily protein intake evenly across meals (∼25–30g/meal) has been suggested to improve muscle mass. The aim of this research is to examine the association between grip strength, total protein intake and its distribution across day’s meals in older adults.MethodsNationally representative dietary intake data of adults aged 51 years and older (n = 4,123) who participated in What We Eat in America, NHANES 2011–2014 were analyzed. Protein intake per day and per eating occasion (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack) were determined. Combined grip strength was calculated and expressed in kilograms. Grip strength of individuals consuming ≥25g protein at 1 eating occasion was compared with those consuming same level of protein at 2 and 3 or more eating occasions. Grip strength of individuals in quartile 1 of daily protein intake was compared to those in the other quartiles. All associations were examined without and with adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, physical activity, health status, and smoking status. The comparison involving eating occasions and protein intake quartiles were further adjusted for daily protein intake and energy intake, respectively.ResultsOnly 33% of men and 19% of women had protein intake of ≥25g at 2 or more eating occasions. These individuals also had higher grip strength and daily protein intake. Grip strength was positively associated with consumption of ≥25g protein at 2 eating occasions as compared to consumption of same level of protein at 1 eating occasion (p<0.05) in unadjusted model, but not when adjusted. Grip strength was positively associated with daily protein intake among women in quartiles 3 and 4 (p<0.05) of protein intake in both unadjusted and adjusted models compared to lowest protein intake. Among men, grip strength was associated with daily protein intake in quartiles 3 and 4 (p<0.05) in the unadjusted model, but not when adjusted.ConclusionIn a nationally representative sample of older adults, consuming ≥25g protein at 2 or more eating occasions was not associated with grip strength. However, higher daily protein intake was positively associated with grip strength in women.

An Update on Protein, Leucine, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Vitamin D in the Prevention and Treatment of Sarcopenia and Functional Decline

“…Testing this rationale in 4123 adults >50 years old in the 2011–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), grip strength was positively associated with consumption of ≥25 g protein/meal on two or more eating occasions compared to only one eating occasion of the same amount. This relationship disappeared when adjusted for multiple covariates, including total daily protein intake, which was related with grip strength [ 47 ]. In contrast, in 1081 older adults (50–85 years) of the 1999–2002 NHANES, Loenneke et al (2016) found that participants consuming at least two meals containing 30–45 g protein/meal had the greatest leg lean mass and strength, and those consuming at least one meal/day of ≥30 g protein/meal had greater responses than those with no meal reaching the 30 g threshold [ 48 ].…”

Do Aspects of Protein Intake Vary Across the Week in Healthy Community-Dwelling Older Adults?—An enable Study

“…In several previous studies showing an association between protein intake and muscle mass and function, protein intake was assessed by 24-h dietary recalls or food records on a maximum of three days [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. These studies used the mean protein intake for the analysis and did not take potential variations in protein intake across the week into account.…”

Nutritional Supplements to Support Resistance Exercise in Countering the Sarcopenia of Aging

“…For example, a randomized crossover study by Mamerow et al demonstrated that, despite a similar daily protein intake (~1.2 g/kg), an even distribution of daily protein intake significantly improved (~25%) MPS rates over 24 h when compared with a skewed protein intake [ 66 ]. To add further complexity, analysis of NHANES 2011–2014 data ( n = 4123, 51+ years old) showed a positive association between higher daily protein intake and grip strength in women but not men [ 67 ], which may indicate the presence of sex-based differences that warrant further study. A recent meta-analysis explored the influence of protein/amino acid supplementation on skeletal muscle mass and strength in older adults in the absence of an exercise intervention [ 68 ] and reported that protein/amino acid supplementation alone is unable to increase skeletal muscle mass or strength [ 68 ].…”