Dietary protein recommendations to support healthy muscle ageing in the 21st century and beyond: considerations and future directions.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review based on conference presentations without primary data or systematic search
PubMed 37818636 · doi:10.1017/S0029665123003750
What was done
This narrative review summarizes presentations from the 2023 Nutrition Society summer conference examining dietary protein requirements and recommendations for skeletal muscle remodeling and healthy ageing. The authors evaluated standard assessment methods (such as nitrogen balance) against contemporary techniques (such as indicator amino acid oxidation), assessed factors beyond dose (protein source, quality, timing, pattern, and co-ingestion), and evaluated the efficacy and sustainability of alternative and plant-based protein sources.
What was found
The authors note that current dietary protein recommendations sit at approximately 0.8 g/kg/d based largely on traditional nitrogen balance studies. Contemporary methods such as indicator amino acid oxidation suggest actual protein needs for older adults may be higher, indicating targets should increase to >1.0 g/kg/d. The review also notes that evidence indicates animal-free protein sources can stimulate skeletal muscle remodeling comparably to animal-derived proteins, though food systems must balance both sources for overall nutrient adequacy.
Why it matters
It highlights an emerging consensus that minimum protein requirements designed to prevent deficiency may be insufficient to optimize muscle maintenance and metabolic health during ageing, while offering guidance on incorporating sustainable non-animal protein sources.
Limits
The abstract describes a narrative conference review rather than a systematic review or meta-analysis. No sample size, quantitative effect estimates, or formal risk of bias assessments are provided, and conclusions rely on synthesized expert consensus rather than newly reported experimental data.
Cited by
- supports The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for daily protein intake is less than half of 1 gram per pound of body weight.