Korean J Geriatr Gerontol.  2021 Jun;22(1):40-46. 10.15656/kjcg.2021.22.1.40.

Amount of Daily Protein Intake Is Not Associated with Skeletal Muscle Strength in Older Adults

• Kim HN
• Song SW

• KMID: 2566397
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15656/kjcg.2021.22.1.40

Abstract

Background
A reduction in skeletal muscle strength is independently related to physical disability and mortality and skeletal muscle strength predicts these outcomes in older adults. However, few studies have investigated the influence of protein consumption on skeletal muscle strength in older adults. Therefore, we evaluated whether daily protein intake was associated with skeletal muscle strength in older adults.
Methods
We used data from 6,503 participants aged 60 years and over from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2014 and 2017. To evaluate skeletal muscle strength, the participants’ handgrip strength (HGS) was measured using a digital grip strength dynamometer. The participants’ dietary protein intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire.
Results
HGS increased with daily protein intake, and daily protein intake was negatively associated with the prevalence of low skeletal muscle strength, but there were no differences in daily protein intake, HGS, or low skeletal muscle strength prevalence after adjustment for the covariates, including physical activity.
Conclusion
Further studies focusing on the interactions between the amount of dietary protein consumed and other factors are needed to evaluate the relationship between the amount of daily protein intake and skeletal muscle strength.

Keyword

Dietary proteins; Handgrip strength; Muscle strength; Older adults; Possible sarcopenia