Prevalence and determinants of low protein intake in very old adults: insights from the Newcastle 85+ Study - PubMed (original) (raw)

Prevalence and determinants of low protein intake in very old adults: insights from the Newcastle 85+ Study

Nuno Mendonça et al. Eur J Nutr. 2018 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose: The very old (aged ≥ 85 years), fastest growing age group in most western societies, are at especially high risk of muscle mass and strength loss. The amount, sources and timing of protein intake may play important roles in the aetiology and management of sarcopenia. This study investigated the prevalence and determinants of low protein intake in 722 very old adults participating in the Newcastle 85+ Study.

Methods: Protein intake was estimated with 2 × 24-h multiple pass recalls (24 h-MPR) and contribution (%) of food groups to protein intake was calculated. Low protein intake was defined as intake < 0.8 g of protein per adjusted body weight per day. A backward stepwise multivariate linear regression model was used to explore socioeconomic, health and lifestyle predictors of protein intake.

Results: Twenty-eight percent (n = 199) of the community-living very old in the Newcastle 85+ Study had low protein intake. Low protein intake was less likely when participants had a higher percent contribution of meat and meat products to total protein intake (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95, 1.00) but more likely with a higher percent contribution of cereal and cereal products and non-alcoholic beverages. Morning eating occasions contributed more to total protein intake in the low than in the adequate protein intake group (p < 0.001). Being a woman (p < 0.001), having higher energy intake (p < 0.001) and higher tooth count (p = 0.047) was associated with higher protein intake in adjusted models.

Conclusion: This study provides novel evidence on the prevalence of low protein intake, diurnal protein intake patterns and food group contributors to protein intake in the very old.

Keywords: Aged, 80 and over; Malnutrition; Newcastle 85+; Protein; Very old.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethical standards

This study was conducted according to the guidelines laid down by the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and all procedures involving human subjects were approved by the Newcastle and North Tyneside local research ethics committee (06/Q0905/2). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants, and when unable to do so, consent was obtained from a carer or a relative according to the UK Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1

Fig. 1

Protein intake (g/day) distribution per time category (meal) for individual participants (n = 722) in the Newcastle 85+ Study. The vertical-dashed lines represent the suggested protein amount of either 20 g/meal or 30 g/meal believed to be necessary for optimal protein synthesis. The arrows represent the % of all meals by all participants that meet that threshold. 75% (n = 542) of participants had a meal between 5:30 and 8:29, 89% (n = 643) from 8:30 to 11:29, 99% (n = 714) from 11:30 to 14:29, 90% (n = 646) from 14:30 to 17:29, 86% (n = 623) from 17:30 to 20:29, 73% (n = 112) from 20:30 to 23:29 and 16% (n = 112) from 23:30 to 5:29

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