Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1893/22882
Appears in Collections:Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport Journal Articles
Peer Review Status: Refereed
Title: Growing older with health and vitality: a nexus of physical activity, exercise and nutrition
Author(s): Witard, Oliver
McGlory, Chris
Hamilton, David Lee
Phillips, Stuart M
Contact Email: oliver.witard@stir.ac.uk
Keywords: Healthy ageing
Muscle mass
Protein intake
Issue Date: Jun-2016
Date Deposited: 23-Feb-2016
Citation: Witard O, McGlory C, Hamilton DL & Phillips SM (2016) Growing older with health and vitality: a nexus of physical activity, exercise and nutrition. Biogerontology, 17 (3), pp. 529-546. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-016-9637-9
Abstract: The preservation of skeletal muscle mass and strength with advancing age are, we propose, critical aspects of ageing with health and vitality. Physical inactivity and poor nutrition are known to accelerate the gradual age-related decline in muscle mass and strength—sarcopenia—however, both are subject to modification. The main purpose of this review is to present the latest, evidence-based recommendations for physical activity and exercise, as well as diet for older adults that would help in preserving muscle mass and strength. We take the position that future physical activity/exercise guidelines need to make specific reference to resistance exercise and highlight the benefits of higher-intensity aerobic exercise training, alongside advocating older adults perform aerobic-based physical activity and household tasks (e.g.,carrying groceries). In terms of dietary recommendations, greater emphasis should be placed onoptimalrather thanminimumprotein intakes for older adults. Indeed, guidelines that endorse a daily protein intake of 1.2–1.5g/kg BM/day, which are levels 50–90% greater than the current protein Recommendation Dietary Allowance (0.8g/kg BM/day), are likely to help preserve muscle mass and strength and are safe for healthy older adults. Being cognisant of factors (e.g., reduced appetite) that may preclude older adults from increasing their total daily protein intake, we echo the viewpoint of other active researchers in advocating that protein recommendations for older adults be based on a per meal approach in order to maximize muscle protein synthesis (MPS). On this basis, assuming three meals are consumed daily, a protein dose of 0.4–0.5g/kg BM should be contained in each meal. We are beginning to understand ways in which to increase the utilization of ingested protein for the stimulation of MPS, namely by increasing the proportion of leucine contained in a given dose of protein, co-ingesting other nutrients (e.g., carbohydrate and fat or supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) or being physically active prior to protein intake. Clearly, developing simple lifestyle interventions targeted at preserving muscle mass and strength with advancing age is crucial for facilitating longer, healthier lives into older age.
DOI Link: 10.1007/s10522-016-9637-9
Rights: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.
Licence URL(s): http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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