Effect of protein intake on lean body mass and functionality in community-dwelling adults aged over 50 years living with multiple long-term conditions: a systematic review

Does protein intake affect lean body mass and functionality in community-dwelling adults aged over 50 years with multiple long-term conditions?

Dietary requirements associated with long-term health conditions can impact individual’s nutritional status. Dietary guidance is often targeted at a single health condition and may not take into consideration the overlap of guidance for those with multiple long-term conditions which could cause malnutrition and dehydration. Malnutrition is associated with poorer outcomes such as higher mortality, increased periods of hospitalisation, longer recovery times post illness and increased risk of infections. Traditionally, guidelines for dietary protein intake have been uniform for all adults: 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight each day (g/kg BW/d). However, this recommendation does not account for age and gender related changes in hormone levels, metabolism, immunity and the presence of multi-morbidities. It is proposed that additional protein allowance is required to maintain muscle mass, especially if the high disease burden for this population is taken into consideration.