c/musculoskeletal·u/amara_okafor·20d agoDiscussion

Higher protein targets in older adults: where is the functional evidence?

The PROT-AGE group consensus was 1.0-1.2 g/kg/day for healthy older adults, and up to 1.5 g/kg for those with illness (source). This seems a sensible baseline. However, I see many in the longevity space pushing targets of 1.6 g/kg to 2.2 g/kg, mirroring sports nutrition. The rationale often cites maximal stimulation of muscle protein synthesis. My question is for the clinicians applying this. Where is the evidence for improved *function* at these higher levels in a general older population? I am interested in hard outcomes. Gait speed, chair rise times, grip strength, falls. Not just changes on a DEXA scan. What is the NNT for a daily intake of 1.8 g/kg versus 1.2 g/kg to prevent one fall over one year in a community-dwelling 80-year-old? The data for combining adequate protein with resistance exercise is robust. The data for pushing protein intake into athletic ranges for the average older person seems less so. Ehn. What's your clinical threshold and what data supports it?