Higher dietary protein intake is associated with sarcopenia in older British twins

Ni Lochlainn, Mary, Bowyer, Ruth C. E., Welch, Ailsa A., Whelan, Kevin and Steves, Claire J. (2023) Higher dietary protein intake is associated with sarcopenia in older British twins. Age and Ageing, 52 (2). ISSN 0002-0729

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia, characterised by an accelerated loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, is associated with negative outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate factors associated with skeletal muscle strength, mass and sarcopenia, particularly protein intake, and to assess whether shared twin characteristics are important. METHODS: This study utilised cross-sectional data from a study of community-dwelling twins aged ≥60 years. Multivariable logistic regression and between- and within-twin pair regression modelling were used. RESULTS: Participants (n = 3,302) were 89% female (n = 2,923), aged a mean of 72.1 (±7.3) years and composed of 858 (55%) monozygotic, 709 (45%) dizygotic twin pairs and 168 individual lone twins. Using optimal protein intake as the reference group (1.0-1.3 g/kg/day), there was no significant association between protein intake (neither high nor low) and low muscle strength, or between low protein intake and sarcopenia (odds ratio (OR) 0.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39-1.25; P = 0.229) in unadjusted models. High protein intake (>1.3 g/kg/day) was associated with low muscle mass (OR 1.76; 95% CI 1.39-2.24; P < 0.0001), while low protein intake was protective (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.40-0.67; P < 0.0001). High protein intake was associated with sarcopenia (OR 2.04; 95% CI 1.21-3.44; P = 0.008), and this was robust to adjustment for demographic, anthropometric and dietary factors. The association between muscle strength and weight, body mass index, healthy eating index, protein intake and alpha diversity was not significantly influenced by shared twin factors, indicating greater amenability to interventions. CONCLUSIONS: High protein intake is associated with sarcopenia in a cohort of healthy older twins.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Data Availability: Data are available on request from TwinsUK, please see https://twinsuk.ac.uk/resources-for-researchers/access-our-data/ for details. Declaration of Sources of Funding: M.N.L. is supported by a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Doctoral Fellowship (grant code: NIHR300159). C.J.S. receives funds from the Medical Research Council (MRC), Wellcome Trust and the Chronic Disease Research Foundation. K.W. has received funds from the MRC, NIHR, Crohn’s and Colitis UK, Kenneth Rainin Foundation, Leona M and Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust, Almond Board of California, Danone and International Dried Fruit Council. A.A.W. has received funding from Norwich Medical School, Norfolk & Waveney Integrated Care Board, Norfolk County Council and UEA Health & Social Care Partners and unrestricted funding from Dairy Australia. TwinsUK is funded by the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, Versus Arthritis, European Union Horizon 2020, Chronic Disease Research Foundation (CDRF), Zoe Global Ltd and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)-funded BioResource, Clinical Research Facility and Biomedical Research Centre based at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with King’s College London.
Uncontrolled Keywords: frailty,gut microbiome,muscle loss,older people,protein,sarcopenia,ageing,geriatrics and gerontology ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1300/1302
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Epidemiology and Public Health
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Public Health and Health Services Research (former - to 2023)
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health
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Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 03 Apr 2023 09:30
Last Modified: 19 Oct 2023 03:34
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/91708
DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afad018

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