Inadequate distribution of dietary protein and muscle mass in older adults

OBJECTIVE: To assess protein intake, its distribution across main meals and the relationship between this distribution and muscle mass in older adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 47 older adults attending a community center in Campo Grande, MS, Brazil. A sociodemographic questionnaire was used to characterize the population. Dietary intake data were collected using two 24-hour dietary recalls on nonconsecutive days. Anthropometric measures and handgrip strength were collected. Skeletal muscle mass was calculated from the anthropometric measures. Descriptive statistics were used to derive means and standard deviations. Analysis of variance and Tukey tests were performed, with a significance level of 5% (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The older adults, mostly Caucasian, female, physically active, at risk of malnutrition, and with a low level of education, had an energy intake of 1305.28 kcal/day. Protein intake was 65.19 g/day, with a mean of 0.93 g/kg/day. Lunch was the meal with the highest protein intake (33.85 ± 2.47 g). The lowest protein intake was observed at breakfast (8.56 ± 0.82 g). All meals were below the recommendation of 40 g of protein/meal. Protein intake at breakfast was associated with calf circumference (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The older adults in this study consumed a low amount of total and per-meal protein. Breakfast showed the lowest protein intake, and this was associated with calf circumference in the study sample.