Dietary Protein Quality for Skeletal Muscle Anabolism in Older Adults

Dietary proteins potently augment muscle protein synthesis. Because of poorer anabolic sensitivity with ageing, studies and guidelines recommend higher dietary protein intake for older adults. Although higher doses would benefit skeletal muscle remodelling, large protein consumption is not feasible for many older adults. To circumvent, high-protein quality which possesses a high amino acid profile and digestibility appears to have an emergent role for supporting anabolism. Since currently the best line of defence against age related muscle loss is resistance exercise training and regular protein consumption, emphasising high-quality protein ingestion, such as whey protein, within meals may be feasible and efficacious in supporting musculoskeletal remodelling in older adults, without requirement for large protein doses. The investigators propose that at low doses, high quality protein will have additive benefit to muscle protein synthesis compared to low-quality protein. Further, combining high-quality protein diets with resistance exercise training will have more profound benefits for muscle protein synthesis and muscle remodelling more so than low-quality protein diets.