Effect of Milk and Other Dairy Products on the Risk of Frailty, Sarcopenia, and Cognitive Performance Decline in the Elderly: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Nutrition is a modifiable factor potentially related to aging. Milk and other dairy products may contribute to the prevention of physical and cognitive impairment. We conducted a systematic review to investigate the effectiveness of dairy product intake for preventing cognitive decline, sarcopenia, and frailty in the elderly population. A systematic search for publications in electronic databases [MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase, Scopus, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews] from 2009 to 2018 identified observational and interventional studies in English and Spanish that tested the relation between dairy product consumption and cognitive decline, sarcopenia, and frailty in community-dwelling older people. We assessed the participants, the type of exposure or intervention, the outcomes, and the quality of evidence. We screened a total of 661 records and included 6 studies (5 observational prospective cohort studies and 1 randomized controlled trial). Regarding cognitive impairment, the relation cannot be firmly established. Consumption of milk at midlife may be negatively associated with verbal memory performance. In older women, high intakes of dairy desserts and ice cream were associated with cognitive decline. On the other hand, 1 study demonstrated a significant inverse relation between dairy intake and development of Alzheimer disease among older Japanese subjects. The consumption of dairy products by older people may reduce the risk of frailty, especially with high consumption of low-fat milk and yogurt, and may also reduce the risk of sarcopenia by improving skeletal muscle mass through the addition of nutrient-rich dairy proteins (ricotta cheese) to the habitual diet. Despite the scarcity of evidence on the topic, our systematic review shows that there are some positive effects of dairy products on frailty and sarcopenia, whereas studies concerning cognitive decline have contradictory findings.

Dietary patterns and risk of mild cognitive impairment among Chinese elderly: A cross-sectional study

“…Milk and other dairy products may contribute to the prevention of physical and cognitive impairment [ 36 ]. Our study found that milk and dairy products intake was positively correlated with higher scores for FP1, which had beneficial effect on cognitive function.…”

“…Our study found that milk and dairy products intake was positively correlated with higher scores for FP1, which had beneficial effect on cognitive function. However, in older Japanese individuals a significant inverse relation between dairy intake and the development of AD was found [ 36 ]. A longitudinal study suggested no significant association between consumption of dairy products and MCI in French women [ 37 ].…”

The mechanisms and treatments for sarcopenia: could exosomes be a perspective research strategy in the future?

“…As shown by different studies, on average, the prevalence of sarcopenia in older adults aged 60–70 years lies at 5–13%, increasing to 11–50% in people aged 80 or older . Sarcopenia is closely related to negative outcomes in older adults, such as an increased risk of falls and fractures and impaired cognitive function and physical performance . These factors further lead to the negative clinical outcomes and socio‐economic consequences, such as poor quality of life and higher overall health care cost .…”

Feasibility and acceptability of a milk and resistance exercise intervention to improve muscle function in community-dwelling older adults (MIlkMAN): Pilot study

“…whey) or isolated nutrients (e.g. leucine) and less is known about the role of whole foods rich in protein, such as milk and milk products, in sarcopenia [9,10]. Incorporating foods dense in nutrients beneficial for ageing muscle [11] within a balanced diet may inform the development of strategies to mitigate sarcopenia that are acceptable to older adults [12], and not reliant on nutritional supplements or pharmacotherapy.…”