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Older American Women May Especially Benefit from Distributing and Consuming Protein for Decreasing Odds of Functional Limitations

  • Original Research
  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objectives

Protein is a key macronutrient for preserving physical function, but the role of protein intake on functional status may differ in men and women. We sought to examine the associations of daily protein intake and distribution on functional limitations in older American men and women.

Design

Cross-sectional.

Setting

Population-based survey.

Participants

The analytic sample included 3,976 men and 4,081 women aged ≥60-years from the 2007–2016 waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Measurements

Participants reported their ability to perform basic activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, leisure and social activities, lower extremity mobility activities, and general physical tasks. Those reporting difficulty or an inability in completing such functional tasks were considered as having a functional limitation. Protein intake was determined with dietary recalls and participants revealed functional limitations. Protein recommendations of ≥0.80, ≥1.00, and ≥1.50 g/kg/day were used. Based on these cut-points, we also investigated distribution of protein across 4 eating occasions at ≥0.20, ≥0.25, and ≥0.38 g/kg/meal, respectively.

Results

Older women meeting each recommendation had decreased odds for functional limitations: 0.55 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.40–0.75) for ≥0.80 g/kg/day, 0.75 (CI: 0.58–0.97) for ≥1.00 g/kg/day, and 0.72 (CI: 0.55–0.94) for ≥1.5 g/kg/day. No significant associations were observed in older men. Further, older women with protein consumption ≥0.20 g/kg/meal had decreased odds for functional limitations: 0.24 (CI: 0.10–0.61) for 1 occasion, 0.20 (CI: 0.08–0.49) for 2 occasions, 0.16 (CI: 0.07–0.40) for 3 occasions, and 0.12 (CI: 0.04–0.32) for 4 occasions. A similar trend was observed for intake ≥0.25 g/kg/meal: 0.31 (CI: 0.16–0.62) for 2 occasions, 0.30 (CI: 0.14–0.61) for 3 occasions, and 0.31 (CI: 0.12–0.78) for 4 occasions. Women with 1 and 2 eating occasions at ≥0.38 g/kg/meal of protein had 0.66 (CI: 0.48–0.91) and 0.54 (CI: 0.37–0.79) decreased odds for functional limitations, respectively.

Conclusion

Trials that are powered to detect the effects of protein on functional status in women will help to establish causality.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, NDSU Dept 2620, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND, 58108-6050, USA

    A. Houfek, J. Garden-Robinson, E. Hilliard, Y. Rhee, S. Stastny & Ryan McGrath

  2. Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    M. A. Belury

  3. California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, San Francisco Coordinating Center, San Francisco, CA, USA

    P. M. Cawthon

  4. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA

    P. M. Cawthon

  5. Fargo VA Healthcare System, Fargo, ND, USA

    Ryan McGrath

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  1. A. Houfek
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  2. J. Garden-Robinson
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  4. Y. Rhee
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Correspondence to Ryan McGrath.

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Conflicts of Interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Ethical Standards Disclosure: Protocols used in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were approved by the National Center for Health Statistics Research Ethics Review Board.

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Houfek, A., Garden-Robinson, J., Hilliard, E. et al. Older American Women May Especially Benefit from Distributing and Consuming Protein for Decreasing Odds of Functional Limitations. J Nutr Health Aging 26, 1025–1032 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-022-1857-x

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