Pflanzliches Eiweiß ab 60: Leidet die Muskelkraft, wenn Fleisch wegfällt?

<h4>Background</h4>Although plant proteins have less environmental impact than animal proteins, it remains unclear whether they can adequately support physical functioning in old age.<h4>Objective</h4>This prospective study aimed to investigate the association of the dietary plant-to-animal protein intake ratio with the incidence of slow gait speed among older adults.<h4>Methods</h4>Data from 997 adults [50.7% male, mean age 65.5 (SD 6.9) y] with a baseline gait speed ≥0.8 m/s were derived from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. The dietary plant-to-animal protein intake ratio was calculated from a 238-item food frequency questionnaire completed from 2014 to 2015. Gait speed was measured at baseline and at three 3-y follow-up waves using a 6-meter walk test. Cox proportional hazards models estimated the association between protein ratio quintiles and incident slow gait speed (<0.8 m/s), while adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors and testing for interaction by sex, overall diet quality, protein intake, and baseline gait speed.<h4>Results</h4>The median dietary plant-to-animal protein intake ratio was 0.67 [interquartile range (IQR): 0.52 to 0.86]. During follow-up, slow gait speed (<0.8 m/s) developed in 415 participants (41.6%). No significant association was found between the protein ratio and incident slow gait speed. The adjusted hazard ratio of the highest (ratio > 0.91) compared with the lowest (ratio ≤ 0.49) quintile was 0.98 (95% confidence interval: 0.

<h4>Background</h4>Multimorbidity is the most common chronic condition experienced among older adults. It is unknown which amount and source of protein influences the development of frailty and mortality in patients with multimorbidity. We aimed to examine the association of plant and animal sources of protein intake with frailty and mortality among this type of patients.<h4>Methods</h4>This longitudinal study included 1868 participants aged ≥ 60 years from the Seniors-ENRICA cohort in Spain with multimorbidity, defined as having 2 or more clinician-diagnosed chronic diseases. Habitual diet was assessed at baseline (2008-2010) with a validated computerized diet history. Participants underwent repeated physical examinations (in 2013, 2015 and 2017) for assessment of frailty (≥ 3 criteria from the frailty phenotype: low physical activity, slow walking speed, muscle weakness, weight loss and exhaustion). All-cause mortality was assessed up to January 2022. Analyses were conducted using Cox proportional hazard models and multistate models adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle and other dietary factors.<h4>Results</h4>Mean consumption of protein was 90.2 (standard deviation [SD]: 26.8) g/day, which represents 18.7% of the total energy intake and 1.23 (0.39) g per kg of body weight per day. Plant protein represented 6.16% of the energy intake, while animal protein represented 12.5%. During a median follow-up of 12.9 (range: 11.7-13.9) years, we documented 196 incident cases of f

Sarcopenia is a multifactorial age-related disorder that causes a decrease in muscle mass, strength, and function, leading to alteration of movement, risk of falls, and hospitalization. This article aims to review recent findings on the factors underlying sarcopenia and the strategies required to delay and counteract its symptoms. We focus on molecular factors linked to ageing, on the role of low-grade chronic and acute inflammatory conditions such as cancer, which contributes to the onset of sarcopenia, and on the clinical criteria for its diagnosis. The use of drugs against sarcopenia is still subject to debate, and the suggested approaches to restore muscle health are based on adequate dietary protein intake and physical exercise. We also highlight the difference in the amount and quality of amino acids within animal- and plant-based diets, as studies have often shown varying results regarding their effect on sarcopenia in elderly people. In addition, many studies have reported that non-pharmacological approaches, such as an optimization of dietary protein intake and training programs based on resistance exercise, can be effective in preventing and delaying sarcopenia. These approaches not only improve the maintenance of skeletal muscle function, but also reduce health care costs and improve life expectancy and quality in elderly people.