Exploring opportunities to better characterize the effects of dietary protein on health across the lifespan

Adv Nutr. 2024 Nov 26:100347. doi: 10.1016/j.advnut.2024.100347. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Remarkable advances have been made over the last thirty years in understanding the role of dietary protein in optimizing muscle health across the lifespan. That is, acute (<24h) stable isotope-derived measures of muscle protein synthesis have led to established recommendations for protein quantity, quality, source, and timing of protein ingestion to support muscle health at rest, post-exercise, and to overcome age-related anabolic resistance in older adults. While muscle health is undoubtedly important, moving from muscle to other associated or disease-specific outcomes is a critical next step for the field, given the mounting evidence documenting effects of dietary protein on measures of chronic disease and age-related decline (e.g., cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, frailty, and osteoporosis). In this narrative review, we posit that future studies evaluating the potential role of dietary protein build off of the existing knowledge base generated from decades of past research and focus their efforts on closing unanswered knowledge gaps pertaining to dietary protein and health across the lifespan. Throughout this review, we highlight potential methodologies and novel outcome measures that researchers may consider as starting points to facilitate the next thirty years of advances in the field of dietary protein and health.

Keywords: Recommended dietary allowance; bone fracture risk; cardiovascular disease; high-resolution peripheral computed tomography; low and high protein diets; obesity; physical function; sarcopenia; satiety; sleep; strength; type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Publication types

  • Review