Associations of protein intake, sources and distribution on muscle strength in community-dwelling older adults living in Auckland, New Zealand.

Protein intake, sources and distribution impact on muscle protein synthesis and muscle mass in older adults. However, it is less clear whether dietary protein influences muscle strength. Data were obtained from the Researching Eating Activity and Cognitive Health (REACH) study, a cross-sectional study aimed at investigating dietary patterns, cognitive function and metabolic syndrome in older adults aged 65-74 years.

Body composition associations with muscle strength in older adults living in Auckland, New Zealand.

Background: Aging is associated with decreases in muscle strength and simultaneous changes in body composition, including decreases in muscle mass, muscle quality and increases in adiposity.

Methods: Adults (n = 369; 236 females) aged 65-74 years living independently were recruited from the cross-sectional Researching Eating Activity and Cognitive Health (REACH) study. Body fat percentage and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) (sum of lean mass in the arms and legs) were assessed using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (Hologic, QDR Discovery A).