But Japanese study saw no such benefits for women
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
WEDNESDAY, March 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) --
Older men may gain a boost physically, mentally and socially if they eat a diet rich in meat and fish, according to a new study from Japan.
This study of more than 1,000 older adults suggested that men who ate the most meat and fish reduced their odds of mental and physical decline by 39 percent, compared with men who ate the least animal protein.
But the same association was not seen in women.
Nor were the same benefits linked to proteins from plants, the researchers found.
The study doesn't actually prove that eating meat and fish caused the men's health improvements, or that low animal protein intake contributes to early decline, however.
"It is an observational study that simply shows a relationship between protein and functional decline. It does not prove cause and effect," said Lona Sandon, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.
"Also, the study was conducted in Japanese men and women, not people living in the U.S.," she added. Because it is such a specific study population, the results may not apply to people elsewhere, Sandon pointed out.
Still, research indicates adequate protein intake is important as people age, Sandon noted. The ability to process protein may decline in old age. As a result, protein requirements may increase, the study suggested.
"High-quality protein can help preserve lean muscle that is lost with aging and can affect daily functioning," Sandon said. And higher-quality proteins found in animal sources are more easily used by the body than plant sources.
The report was published in the March 13 issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
For the study, a research team led by Megumi Tsubota-Utsugi, from the National Institute of Health and Nutrition in Tokyo, evaluated questionnaires from 1,007 men and women whose average age was 67.
Participants were asked about their diet, including animal protein intake, at the start of the study and seven years later.
Depending on how much meat and fish they ate, participants were divided into four groups. They were also tested on the social and intellectual aspects of their lives.
At the end of the study, about one-quarter of participants reported declines in thinking and other skills. But men who ate the most meat and fish decreased their risk of mental and physical decline by 39 percent, compared with men who ate the least animal protein, the researchers found.
Connie Diekman, director of nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis, thinks the study has some serious limitations.
She noted that food information was assessed only twice in seven years, portions were not carefully assessed, and the intensity of exercise -- an important factor in building muscle -- was not accounted for.
Even so, "This study says to me that we need to keep adequate amounts of protein and a good diversity of protein sources, especially fish, throughout our life," Diekman said.
As to why women didn't see similar benefits, Diekman isn't sure.
"It's hard to say, but since men have more muscle mass to start with, it may be that animal protein allows for overall better performance. But this would be one area that requires more study," she noted.
Another expert issued a different caution. The study "does not give you license to run to the nearest burger joint thinking you are saving your brain," said Samantha Heller, a senior clinical nutritionist at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.
In general, it is not uncommon for older people to consume less protein and fewer calories than they need to stem the loss of muscle mass and important body fluids, she explained. Losing muscle mass affects quality of life, organ health and the immune system. "Overloading protein, however, is not the answer either, since as we get older our kidneys and other organs may not be able to handle excessive amounts of protein," Heller said. Also, a diet laden with red and processed meat is associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, certain cancers and dementia, she explained.
"We want to be sure our aging population is eating a balanced, healthy diet replete with adequate fluids and healthy sources of protein, including fish, chicken, legumes and nuts," Heller said.
SOURCES: Connie Diekman, director, nutrition, Washington University in St. Louis; Samantha Heller, M.S., R.D., senior clinical nutritionist, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York City; Lona Sandon, R.D., assistant professor of clinical nutrition, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; March 13, 2014, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
HealthDay
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Diets High In Animal Protein May Help Prevent Functional Decline In Elderly Individuals
Press / In The Media, Press Releases
Diets High in Animal Protein May Help Prevent Functional Decline in Elderly Individuals
March 11th, 2014
NEW YORK—A diet high in protein, particularly animal protein, may help elderly individuals maintain a higher level of physical, psychological, and social function according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Due to increasing life expectancies in many countries, increasing numbers of elderly people are living with functional decline, such as declines in cognitive ability and activities of daily living. This can have profound effects on the health and well-being of older adults and their caregivers, as well as on health care resources.
Research suggests that as people age, their ability to absorb or process protein may decline. To compensate for this loss, protein requirements may increase with age. Megumi Tsubota-Utsugi, PhD, MPH, RD, of the National Institute of Health and Nutrition in Japan, and her colleagues in Tohoku University and Teikyo University, Japan, wondered whether protein intake might affect the functional capabilities of older adults. They designed a study to investigate the relationship between protein intake and future decline in higher-level functional capacity in older community-dwelling adults in Japan. Their analysis included 1,007 individuals with an average age of 67.4 years who completed food questionnaires at the start of the study and seven years later. Participants were divided into four groups (quartiles) according to their intake levels of total, animal, and plant protein. Tests of higher-level functional capacity included social and intellectual aspects as well as measures related to activities of daily living.
Men in the highest quartile of animal protein intake had a 39 percent decreased chance of experiencing higher-level functional decline than those in the lowest quartile. These associations were not seen in women. No consistent association was observed between plant protein intake and future higher-level functional decline in either sex.
"Identifying nutritional factors that contribute to maintaining higher-level functional capacity is important for prevention of future deterioration of activities of daily living,” said Dr. Tsubota-Utsugi. “Along with other modifiable health behaviors, a diet rich in protein may help older adults maintain their functional capacity.”
About the American Geriatrics Society
Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a non-profit organization of over 6,200 healthcare professionals whose shared mission is to improve the health, independence and quality of life of older people. Our vision for the future is that all older adults will have access to quality healthcare that meets their unique needs. To achieve this, the AGS focuses on: educating all healthcare professionals about the special healthcare needs of older adults; advancing aging research; enhancing clinical care for older people; raising public awareness of seniors' healthcare needs; and advocating for public policy that ensures older adults have access to high quality, appropriate, cost-effective care. The AGS is a pivotal force in shaping practices, policies and perspectives in the field of older adult health and wellness.
About the Journal:
The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society is a comprehensive and reliable source of monthly research and information about common diseases and disorders of older adults. The journal is published by Wiley on behalf of the American Geriatrics Society.
For more information, please visit http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jgs. Access the full study on the Wiley Press Room here. (To access PDFs and embargoed stories you must be logged in to the Press Room before clicking the link. Request a login here.)
Modified On: March 11th, 2014
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Link: http://www.americangeriatrics.org/press/news_press_releases/id:4803
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