More protein as you get older?

catscats222
catscats222 Posts: 1,598 Member
edited November 24 in Food and Nutrition
On TV for a brief second I heard that as you get older you need more protein.
A news show.
Quick.
They never get into details.
Why do you need more protein as you get older?
Double, Triple?
I'm in my 30's. Do I need to start "upping" now?

Replies

  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    Can't say that I've heard that one before
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited September 2015
    There was something on a British study posted here a few months ago, but I can't remember the name of the guy who did it. It had to do with maximizing the benefits of strength-building exercises in older people, who typically have a harder time building muscle.

    Anyway, I found some other stuff:

    http://www.the-aps.org/mm/hp/Audiences/Public-Press/2015-1.html

    http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/040715p16.shtml

    Basically, if you are eating in the range generally recommended at MFP (.6-.8 g/lb of bodyweight), then that's already in the range. But if focusing just on the RDA there's some evidence that increasing it would be good (although they are talking about people who are 50s and up more than 30s). This really isn't surprising in that muscle loss is common as people get older and is a reason to focus more on activities that build or maintain muscle and bone, also.
  • vegangela_
    vegangela_ Posts: 154 Member
    Usually older people 70+ are encouraged to increase their protein intake as they're susceptible to weight loss, soft tissue injuries, falls etc. (I'm a nurse)
  • baptiste565
    baptiste565 Posts: 590 Member
    Hopefully 30's arent considered older. Lol
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    I spent the past 5 years caring for my grandparents before they passed and I would say if its not true, it SHOULD be.

    Protein helps with muscle and tissue repair, and as we age, we become far more susceptible to various injuries and things like bedsores.
  • tennisdude2004
    tennisdude2004 Posts: 5,609 Member
    As we get older it would seem we are less efficient at processing protein.

    It has to do with nitrogen balance.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22139561
  • 20yearsyounger
    20yearsyounger Posts: 1,630 Member
    I have been watching a lot of fitness conference videos on aging and exercise and the recommendation seems to be ensure sufficient protein for all the reasons mentioned above. You just naturally lose muscle and you need it (it seems to speed up over 50). I didn't see anything regarding doubling and tripling though - just the normal recommended levels.
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    Yes. The recommendation is more protein as you get older. I've read a few articles, but am still researching how much. I'm wondering if the American Heart Association has informatio because they are a proponent of less protein for most Americans.
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