The role of dietary plant and animal protein intakes on mitigating sarcopenia risk

Purpose of review

To highlight contemporary findings comparing the digestibility of animal and plant proteins, their stimulatory effects on muscle protein synthesis, and associations with sarcopenia.

Recent findings

Animal proteins are more digestible than plant proteins, resulting in greater amino acid availability and stimulation of muscle protein synthesis. However, isolated plant proteins, plant protein blends, and modified plant proteins enriched with indispensable amino acids can elicit comparable digestion and absorption kinetics to animal proteins. More research is needed to determine whether these modified plant protein sources can effectively mitigate sarcopenia risk.

Summary

Both animal and plant protein foods can be incorporated into a healthful eating plan that limits risk of age-related diseases, such as sarcopenia. Humans eat food rather than isolated nutrients; as such, considering the context of the overall diet and its impact on health, instead of solely focusing on individual nutrients in isolation, is important.

Source: Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care - October 8, 2022 Category: Nutrition Tags: MICRONUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTATION AND FUNCTIONAL FOODS: Edited by Nathalie M. Delzenne and Henry C. Lukaski Source Type: research