How You Eat Protein (Not Just How Much) Might Affect Muscle Mass

A study from the University of Birmingham in Frontiers in Exercise and Sports Nutrition suggests that how and when older adults consume protein — and not just how much — may have an impact on muscle mass, reports mindbodygreen . The investigators analyzed the diets — especially protein intake — of 120 participants split between young, middle-aged, and older adults. Although all three cohorts were meeting their recommended protein intake guidelines, older adults were not necessarily consuming it at the right times to promote healthy muscle mass. "This uneven pattern of daily protein intake likely results in a failure to meet the threshold for maximal muscle protein synthesis (MPS) stimulation during most meals," the authors said. MPS mechanisms naturally deteriorate with age, so it is critical for older adults to consume more protein than they may have required in previous years. "Most people are reaching the Recommended Daily Allowance of protein, but our results show that a one-size-fits-all guideline for protein intake isn't appropriate across all age groups," declared Birmingham's Benoit Smeuninx. He recommended that a more sophisticated and individualized strategy for evaluating protein intake "can help people understand when and how much protein to consume to support muscle mass."