Year: 2018
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Sarcopenia is characterized by a decline in skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength in the older individuals.It has been suggested that increased dietary protein intake and a healthy diet can prevent or delay the onset of sarcopenia.The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the association of protein intake with bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) (Study I) in the Osteoporosis Risk Factor and Prevention-Fracture Prevention Study, a cohort of Finnish elderly women, n=554, aged 65-72 years.This thesis also examined the associations of intakes of total protein, animal protein and plant protein with changes in muscle mass (Study II), and muscle strength and physical function at baseline and over 3years of follow-up (Study III).We also evaluated whether women with a protein intake higher than 1.1 g/kg body weight and who were not obese would have a lower odds ratio of frailty (Study IV).Finally, we investigated the association of the Baltic Sea diet (BSD) and Mediterranean dietary patterns (MED) with indices of sarcopenia (Study V).After adjustment for confounders, dietary energy-adjusted intakes of total and animal protein (g/d), but not plant protein, were negatively associated with femoral neck BMD and BMC (Study I).Furthermore, women with a higher protein intake i.e. ≥ 1.2 g/kg body weight, had lower femoral neck, lumbar spine and total BMD and BMC.Women in the higher quartiles of total and animal protein intake exhibited less muscle mass loss (Study II), the association was more pronounced among weight maintainers.A dietary protein intake ≥1.1 g/kg body weight and a lower body fat mass were positively associated with muscle strength and physical function in elderly women (Study III).Subjects with protein intake ≥1.1 g/ kg BW had a lower risk of prefrailty (n=206) (OR=0.08 and 95% confidence interval=0.01-0.73)and frailty (n=36) (OR=0.08 and CI=0.01-0.72)compared to those with protein intake <1.1 g/ kg BW (Study IV).Furthermore, obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 ) was associated with prefrailty (OR=2.81 and CI=1.47-5.37)and frailty status (OR=4.72 and confidence interval=1.26-17.60),but this was not the case for overweight (BMI 25 to <30 kg/m 2 ).Finally, this study showed that women in the higher quartiles of BSD and MED scores lost less muscle mass (Study V).Women with higher concordance to BSD and MED had a faster 10 m walking speed, and a better lower body muscle quality (10 m walking speed/leg muscle mass).Taken together, an increase in dietary protein intake and concordance to BSD and MED may be associated with a reduced risk of sarcopenia.
Author: Masoud Isanejad
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology (medical)
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Itä-Suomen Yliopisto
OpenAlex ID: W3198201378