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High relative consumption of vegetable protein is associated with faster walking speed in well-functioning older adults

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Abstract

Background

Adequate nutrition and, especially, optimal protein intake are necessary to preserve physical function during aging. Increased consumption of animal-derived protein is often advocated as a strategy to support physical performance in old age. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence to support this claim.

Aims

To assess the relationship of protein consumption and specific protein sources with physical function in older adults.

Methods

Participants were community dwellers aged 60 years and older recruited in São Paulo, Brazil. Enrollees had their medical books reviewed and were evaluated for anthropometry, physical performance, and diet. Physical performance was evaluated by isometric handgrip strength and walking speed (WS) tests. Diet was assessed using a 24-h recall diary.

Results

Ninety older adults were recruited (mean age: 68.0 ± 6.7 years; 87.0% women). Body weight-adjusted protein consumption was significantly associated with upper-limb muscle strength (r = 0.21; p < 0.05), but not with usual (r = 0.09; p > 0.05) or fast WS (r = 0.08; p > 0.05). Conversely, relative protein consumption was correlated with usual WS (r = 0.13; p < 0.05), while fast WS was negatively associated with relative animal protein intake (r = − 0.18; p < 0.05) and positively associated with relative plant-based protein ingestion (r = 0.15; p < 0.05).

Discussion

Findings of the present study indicate that different measures of protein intake are associated with distinct components of physical function. In addition, high relative ingestion of vegetable protein is associated with faster WS.

Conclusions

A comprehensive dietary evaluation is necessary to appreciate the impact of specific nutrients on physical performance in older people. Future interventional studies are needed to establish the optimal blend of protein sources to support physical performance in old age.

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Data availability

The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

Hélio José Coelho-Junior is funded by a scholarship from the Brazilian federal government (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior; 001). The present work was also partly funded by a grant from the Innovative Medicines Initiative—Joint Undertaking (IMI-JU 115621), intramural research grants from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (D3.2 2013 and D3.2 2015), and by the nonprofit research foundation "Centro Studi Achille e Linda Lorenzon".

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy

    Hélio J. Coelho-Junior, Riccardo Calvani, Anna Picca, Francesco Landi & Roberto Bernabei

  2. Applied Kinesiology Laboratory–LCA, School of Physical Education, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil

    Hélio J. Coelho-Junior, Bruno Rodrigues & Marco C. Uchida

  3. Mãe Mariana Home, Rehabilitation unit, Poá-SP, Brazil

    Hélio J. Coelho-Junior

  4. Center for Geriatric Medicine (Ce.M.I.), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, L.go F. Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy

    Riccardo Calvani, Anna Picca, Francesco Landi, Roberto Bernabei & Emanuele Marzetti

  5. Center of Health Sciences, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil

    Ivan O. Gonçalves

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  1. Hélio J. Coelho-Junior
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Correspondence to Riccardo Calvani or Roberto Bernabei.

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All procedures performed in the present study were approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Mogi das Cruzes (UMC) under the protocol number 621-614 and were conducted in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki and the Resolution 196/96 of the National Health Council.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Coelho-Junior, H.J., Calvani, R., Gonçalves, I.O. et al. High relative consumption of vegetable protein is associated with faster walking speed in well-functioning older adults. Aging Clin Exp Res 31, 837–844 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01216-4

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