Work

Intakes of Total and Branched-Chain Essential Amino Acids are Positively Associated with Handgrip Strength in African American and White Urban Younger and Older Adults

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: Essential amino acids (EAAs) initiate amino acid-induced stimulation of muscle protein synthesis. Study objectives were to calculate intake of EAAs after creating an EAA database, to explore the association of EAAs and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) with handgrip strength (HS) in a younger (<50 y) and older (≥50 y) sample, and to identify major food groups contributing EAAs. The sample consisted of African American and White adults aged, 33–71 years from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span study, 2009–2013. Intake of total EAAs and BCAAs/kg body weight were positively associated (p < 0.001) with HS per body mass index (HS/BMI) ratio. Being male, African American, a nonsmoker, physically active, euglycemic, and normotensive were associated with higher HS/BMI ratio. EAAs were mainly obtained from red meats/poultry and mixed dishes groups. Findings support the role of high-quality proteins and being active in promoting HS.

Source: Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics

DOI: 10.1080/21551197.2022.2070321

Authors: Marie Fanelli Kuczmarski, May A. Beydoun, Alan B. Zonderman, Michele K. Evans

Institutions: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging

Language: English

Topic: Muscle metabolism and nutrition

Subfield: Cell Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Zero hunger

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: National Institutes of Health