Association between protein intake from animal and plant sources and the presence of frailty in community-dwelling Australian women
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: We investigated the cross-sectional association between total, animal and plant protein intake with the presence of a multidimensional measure of frailty in older women. Participants included 1380 community-dwelling Australian women, mean (SD) age 75.1 (2.7) years. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to determine total, plant, and animal protein intake. Frailty was assessed using a frailty index across numerous health domains (scored 0-1, ≥0.25 indicating frailty). Cross-sectional associations were analysed using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models. In total, 275 (19.9%) women were identified as frail. A non-linear inverse association was observed between higher intakes of total protein and the odds for frailty. Compared to lowest protein intakes (Quartile [Q]1, 0.77 g/kg BW/d), greater intakes (up to 1.66 g/kg BW/d, Q4; OR 0.51 95%CI 0.31-0.82) were associated with lower odds for frailty. Higher plant (∼0.60 g/kg BW/d [Q4 vs Q1: OR 0.35 95%CI 0.22-0.57]) and animal (up to ∼0.80 g/kg BW/d; [Q3 vs Q1: OR 0.72 95%CI 0.53-0.97] protein intakes, were associated with lower odds for frailty. Older women consuming higher total protein, including a combination of animal and plant sources, were less likely to be frail, with intakes of ∼1.1-1.6 g/kg likely to be most beneficial.
Institutions: Edith Cowan University, Deakin University, The University of Melbourne, The University of Western Australia, Western Health, Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science, Flinders University, Caring Futures Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Language: English
Topic: Frailty in Older Adults
Subfield: Geriatrics and Gerontology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Awards: A longitudinal study of health in older women, G3103240777, G3641248623, G4577062766, CAIFOS Follow up Study, G4709583472, G5631440850, G5751403937, G6106457999, G6912557542, Better identification, understanding and prevention of advanced blood vessel disease in women, Does extra dietary calcium stop fractures?
OpenAlex ID: W7147414561