MOBeef Update

Sarcopenia – or the loss of muscle mass due to aging – may not be a widely recognized term now, but given the growing baby boomer population, it’s becoming an increasingly important public health issue. Sarcopenia is a condition associated with a loss of muscle mass and strength in older individuals. Prevention of this debilitating disease is especially important to ensure people can continue to live well and independently since loss of muscle can decrease stamina, lessen the ability to perform daily tasks and lead to an increased risk of falls and bone fractures. While there is no single cause, insufficient protein intake may be a key contributor to this condition, which can significantly compromise overall quality of life as we age.

A recent research study, “Aging does not impair the anabolic response to a protein-rich meal,” published in the August edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, examined the ability of a protein-rich food, specifically lean beef, to stimulate muscle protein synthesis (which is essential for muscle growth). The study found that consuming a single four-ounce serving of lean beef acutely stimulated muscle protein synthesis by 50 percent in both young and elderly volunteers. These results are particularly good news for the growing boomer population, as they suggest that aging does not diminish the ability of protein-rich foods to stimulate muscle growth.

In addition, this is significant news given that older adults are not eating enough protein. In fact, approximately 20 percent of older adults eat less than the USDA’s recommended dietary allowance of protein. For the majority of the population, including older adults, the most practical dietary strategy to stimulate muscle growth is to include high-quality protein with each meal. These recent data suggest that lean beef is an effective and practical source of dietary protein for all healthy adults.

You can access the research paper here.