Objective: The optimal protein intake for elderly individuals who exercise regularly has not yet been clearly defined. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that protein intake level is associated with muscle strength in elderly elite athletes. Methods: We evaluated 50 elite senior athletes (38 men and 12 women) participating in the European Master Games 2011 in an observational cross-sectional study. Participants were divided into two groups lower (LPI) or higher (HPI) protein intake-according to the median value of their ratio of urinary urea nitrogen to urinary creatinine (i.e., 8.8 g/L), as a marker of protein intake. A dietary interview confirmed differences in protein consumption between the LPI and HPI groups. We also evaluated body composition (bioimpedance), muscle strength, and hematochemical indices. Results: LPI and HPI groups were homogeneous for age (72 [68-74] and 71 [68-74] y, respectively), fat-free mass index (18.4 [17-19.4] and 18.2 [17-19.1] kg/m(2)), body fat (18.3% [123-20.7%] and 16.6% [13.6-21.2%]), and glomerular filtration rate (57.7 [53.8-64.9] and 62.7 [56.1-69.3] mL/min/1.73 m(2)). The HPI group showed greater leg and trunk muscle strength (N) compared with the LPI group (left leg extension, 339 [238-369] versus 454 [273-561], respectively, P < 0.05; right leg extension, 319 [249-417] versus 432 [334-635], P <= 0.05; trunk extension, 435 [370-467] versus 464 [390-568], P <= 0.05). Conclusions: Higher protein intake in elite senior athletes is associated with a greater muscle strength.

Higher protein intake is associated with improved muscle strength in elite senior athletes / F..G. Di Girolamo, R. Situlin, N. Fiotti, M. Tence, P. De Colle, F. Mearelli, M..A. Minetto, E. Ghigo, M. Pagani, D. Lucini, F. Pigozzi, P. Portincasa, G. Toigo, G. Biolo. - In: NUTRITION. - ISSN 0899-9007. - 42(2017), pp. 82-86. [10.1016/j.nut.2017.05.003]

Higher protein intake is associated with improved muscle strength in elite senior athletes

M. Pagani;D. Lucini;
2017

Abstract

Objective: The optimal protein intake for elderly individuals who exercise regularly has not yet been clearly defined. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that protein intake level is associated with muscle strength in elderly elite athletes. Methods: We evaluated 50 elite senior athletes (38 men and 12 women) participating in the European Master Games 2011 in an observational cross-sectional study. Participants were divided into two groups lower (LPI) or higher (HPI) protein intake-according to the median value of their ratio of urinary urea nitrogen to urinary creatinine (i.e., 8.8 g/L), as a marker of protein intake. A dietary interview confirmed differences in protein consumption between the LPI and HPI groups. We also evaluated body composition (bioimpedance), muscle strength, and hematochemical indices. Results: LPI and HPI groups were homogeneous for age (72 [68-74] and 71 [68-74] y, respectively), fat-free mass index (18.4 [17-19.4] and 18.2 [17-19.1] kg/m(2)), body fat (18.3% [123-20.7%] and 16.6% [13.6-21.2%]), and glomerular filtration rate (57.7 [53.8-64.9] and 62.7 [56.1-69.3] mL/min/1.73 m(2)). The HPI group showed greater leg and trunk muscle strength (N) compared with the LPI group (left leg extension, 339 [238-369] versus 454 [273-561], respectively, P < 0.05; right leg extension, 319 [249-417] versus 432 [334-635], P <= 0.05; trunk extension, 435 [370-467] versus 464 [390-568], P <= 0.05). Conclusions: Higher protein intake in elite senior athletes is associated with a greater muscle strength.
elite senior athletes; muscle strength; protein intake; urinary urea nitrogen-to-urinary creatinine ratio; endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism; nutrition and dietetics
Settore M-EDF/01 - Metodi e Didattiche delle Attivita' Motorie
Settore MED/09 - Medicina Interna
Settore MED/13 - Endocrinologia
2017
Article (author)
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
17 nutrition_Higher protein intake is associated with improved muscle.pdf

accesso riservato

Tipologia: Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione 352.91 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
352.91 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/527739
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 5
  • Scopus 16
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 14
social impact