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Association between Dietary Protein Intake and Grip Strength among Adults Aged 51 Years and Over: What We Eat in America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2014
Author(s) -
Mishra Suruchi,
Goldman Joseph D,
Sahyoun Nadine R,
Moshfegh Alanna J
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.645.4
Subject(s) - quartile , meal , grip strength , medicine , national health and nutrition examination survey , reference daily intake , gerontology , environmental health , physical therapy , population , confidence interval
Objective Distributing daily protein intake evenly across meals (□25–30g/meal) has been suggested to improve muscle mass. The aim of this research is to examine the association between grip strength, total protein intake and its distribution across the day's meals in older adults. Methods Nationally representative dietary intake data of adults aged 51 years and older (n=4012) from What We Eat in America, NHANES 2011–2014 were analyzed. Protein intake per day and per meal type (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks) were determined from a single in‐person 24‐hr dietary recall collected using the USDA Automated Multiple‐Pass Method. Grip strength (kg) was calculated as the sum of the largest readings per hand from the grip dynamometer. Grip strength of individuals consuming ≥25g protein at 1 meal type was compared with those consuming same level of protein at 2 and 3–4 meal types. Grip strength of individuals in quartile 1 of mean daily protein intake was compared with those in the other quartiles. All associations were examined without and with adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, physical activity, health status, and smoking status. The comparison involving meal types was further adjusted for daily protein intake. The comparison between protein intake quartiles was further adjusted for energy intake. Results Only 33% of men and 19% of women had protein intake of ≥25 g at 2 or more meal types. These individuals also had higher grip strength and mean daily protein intake. Grip strength was positively associated with consumption of ≥25 g protein at 2 meal types as compared to consumption of same level of protein at 1 meal type (p<0.0001) in unadjusted model, but not when adjusted. Grip strength was positively associated with mean daily protein intake among women in quartiles 3 (p<0.02) and 4 (p<0.001) of protein intake in both unadjusted and adjusted models. Among men, grip strength was associated with mean daily protein intake in quartile 4 (p<0.001) in the unadjusted model, but not when adjusted. Conclusion In a nationally representative sample of older adults, consuming ≥25 g protein at 2 or more meal types is not associated with grip strength. However, higher daily protein intake is positively associated with grip strength in women. Support or Funding Information None