Protein and diet quality for muscle health and quality of life during ageing

Chapter 4: PROMED-EX recruitment strategy and statistical analysis of baseline demographics and nutrient intake, and effects of three months’ diet intervention, with (“PROMEDEX”) or without (“PROMED”) multimodal home-based exercise, on nutrient intake, diet quality, muscle mass, strength, physical performance, sarcopenia and QoL.<br><br>Results<br>Systematic review (n=36 RCTs) and meta-analysis (n=19 RCTs) found no difference in the effect of plant or animal protein for muscle mass in younger (<50 years) or older (>50 years)populations, or for strength.

Assessment of recruitment strategies for the PROMED-EX trial revealed that collaboration with primary care stakeholders was the most successful method. No participants in this PROMED-EX subsample (n=52) had sarcopenia. Both PROMED-EX and PROMED groups significantly increased protein intake and diet quality.

The PROMED group significantly improved mental health related QoL. Muscle mass and strength did not change in response to interventions.<br><br>Discussion<br>Most trials reviewed in Chapter 2 compared soy to milk protein, therefore these findings may not be extrapolated to all plant and animal proteins and future research is warranted into effects of different protein sources, e.g., non-soy legumes. Analysis of approximately half of the PROMEDEX sample (n=52/105) indicated that the PROMED diet is successful for increasing protein intake and diet quality, and potentially mental health.

Further beneficial effects may be elucidated in final analysis after six months of intervention, aimed to be completed by May 2024.<br><br><br><br>