Researchers Pinpoint Ideal Protein to Help Seniors Rebuild Lost Muscle

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition compared the effect of different forms of protein supplements on older adults struggling to rebuild muscle loss due to inactivity associated with illness or long hospital stays, reports Medical Xpress . The researchers determined that protein did not halt lean muscle loss caused by inactivity, but whey supplements helped rebuild muscle once participants resumed activities. Whey is rich in all essential amino acids and is higher in leucine, which the body cannot produce itself. The researchers enrolled men and women who were non-smokers, non-diabetic, and between 65 and 80 years old. One cohort consumed whey protein and the other collagen peptides. Participants' diet was controlled over five weeks, including two weeks where their daily steps were limited to 750 daily and their calorie intake reduced by 500 calories daily. Over a one-week recovery period, participants returned to normal activity levels. The team's prediction that the collagen peptide group would experience a significantly greater muscle loss than the whey protein group did not pan out, as both cohorts lost the same amount of muscle. Although protein did not mitigate muscle loss, when participants returned to normal activity levels, the whey group recovered more skeletal muscle. "When we consider measures that can be taken to help seniors as they age, it's clear that whey is an important ingredient," remarks McMaster University's Sara Oikawa.