HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Lack of Protein Reduces Muscle mass and Impairs Immunity in Elderly Women

Study Abstract

A 9-wk study of adaptation to marginal protein intakes was conducted in 12 elderly women. Subjects were randomly assigned to two groups fed a weight-maintenance diet containing either 1.47 (low) or 2.94 (adequate) g protein.kg body cell mass-1.d-1 (0.45 and 0.92 g.kg body wt-1.d-1, respectively). Mean nitrogen balance in the low-protein group remained negative throughout the study. These subjects experienced significant losses in lean tissue, immune response, and muscle function. The adequate-protein group was in nitrogen balance throughout the study, without changes in lean tissue, and with improvements in immune response, serum immunoglobulins, albumin, total protein values, and muscle function. Thus, elderly women fed the low-protein diet accommodated to the diet by compromising functional capacity, whereas those fed the adequate diet maintained functional capacity.

Study Information

Castaneda C, Charnley JM, Evans WJ, Crim MC.
Elderly women accommodate to a low-protein diet with losses of body cell mass, muscle function, and immune response.
Am J Clin Nutr.
1995 July
USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA.

Full Study

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/reprint/62/1/30