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The Role of Whey Protein In Elderly/Obese People in Increasing Muscle Mass and Decreasing Adipose

Last updated: August-19,2019

The Role of Whey Protein in Elderly/Obese People - Clinical Study

The Role of Whey Protein in Elderly/Obese People in Increasing Muscle Mass and Decreasing Adipose Tissue

This Research brief is summarized from a published clinical study. All the information and statistics cited below were taken directly from the original publication piloted by Coker, et al.1 NutraScience Labs has restructured or paraphrased some sections of this brief in an attempt to more succinctly summarize the research.

INTRODUCTION

The elderly population is particularly prone to the accelerated loss of muscle mass or sarcopenia with advancing age which is further complicated by the combined influence of physical inactivity and poor nutrition that often accompanies the aging process.

Combined with the challenge of sarcopenia, the prevalence of obesity among elderly adults has increased dramatically.

While moderate increases in dietary protein intake beyond the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) have been suggested to enhance anabolic activity in skeletal muscle, amino acid consumption has also been shown to facilitate an increase in muscle protein synthesis.

To meet the aims of the study, a caloric restriction paradigm designed to elicit 7% weight loss and decrease metabolic risk was chosen.The overriding hypothesis was that the supplementation of the whey protein + essential amino acid meal replacement (EAAMR) formulation will be required to promote the optimal reduction of adipose tissue while preserving lean tissue in obese, elderly adults.

It was also proposed that the changes in body composition would occur in conjunction with an increase in the skeletal muscle protein fractional synthetic rate (FSR) to EAAMR compared to competitive meal replacement (CMR).

METHODS

Recruitment and Screening

Healthy males and females, ages = 65-80 years of age and of all races and ethnic backgrounds, were recruited and enrolled for a caloric restriction-based weight loss intervention designed to promote 7% weight loss.

In conjunction with the consumption of solid food in both groups, subjects were randomized to one of two groups that would consume either EAAMR or a CMR five times/day.

Weight Loss Study Design

Based on eligibility, volunteers were randomly assigned to one of two groups:

  1. 7% weight loss with EAAMR, or
  2. 7% weight loss using CMR.

Both groups consumed 5 servings a day.

Obese, elderly volunteers in both groups (EAAMR or CMR) completed one visit that included a stable isotope experimental session. Following the completion of the experimental testing sessions, all volunteers were instructed to consume a low calorie diet for 8 weeks.

Body weight and body composition was measured weekly by our clinical staff. Any volunteer that failed to lose weight on two subsequent visits was removed from the study for noncompliance to the protocol.

Body Weight and Consumption
Body mass, BMI, and body composition were measured pre and post weight loss, and during each weekly visit.

Analysis of Samples
Blood
The isotopic enrichment of L- phenylalanine in blood was determined on an HP Model 5973 GCMS (Hewlett-Packard Co., Palo Alto, CA) by electron impact ionization and selected ion monitoring.

Muscle
Tissue biopsies of the vastus lateralis were immediately rinsed with cold saline, blotted, and frozen in liquid nitrogen.

Calculation of skeletal muscle protein FSR
Skeletal muscle protein FSR was calculated from the determination of the rate of tracer incorporation into the protein and the enrichment of the intracellular pool as the precursor.

Statistical Analysis
Variables were summarized using means, standard deviations, medians and ranges. The groups were compared with respect to changes in adipose and lean tissue, and skeletal muscle protein synthesis as measured by skeletal muscle protein FSR, using student two-sample t-tests.

RESULTS

Subjects
12 volunteers were enrolled, and one subject dropped out due to their inability to comply with the protocol. Therefore, 11 obese women and men lost 7% of total body weight, and completed all aspects of the study.

Anthropometrics
Relative to the caloric restriction-induced weight loss interventions, there was a significant and similar 7% reduction in body weight in EAAMR and CMR.

Plasma and Muscle Phenyalanine Enrichment
Basal plasma phenyalanine enrichments were not different between EAAMR and CMR. Upon ingestion of each product, muscle phenyalanine enrichments increased dramatically in EAAMR compared to no change with CMR.

DISCUSSION

This experimental approach made it possible to determine whether consumption of EAAMR was more effective than CMR in promoting the concomitant reduction of adipose tissue and preservation of lean tissue during caloric restriction-induced weight loss in elderly, obese individuals.

While the sample size may have affected the outcome, consumption of EAAMR seemed to favor the preservation of lean tissue, but was not significant with the limited number of participants.

The primary differences between EAAMR and CMR were the total amount/type of intact protein and the total amount and formulation of essential amino acids. While EAAMR contained 7 grams of intact protein from whey protein, CMR contained 14 grams intact protein derived from sodium casenate and calcium casenate.

Other factors such as the administration of the meal replacements, timing sequence of the protocol, the characterization of the subjects, and the length of the protocol could have also influenced the results related to body composition.

While we were not able to achieve statistical significance in terms of EAAMR promoting enhanced preservation of lean tissue, the sparing influence of muscle loss might have been demonstrated with a larger sample size. Acute administration of EAAMR did promote a significant increase in skeletal muscle protein FSR compared to CMR.

For the effective treatment of sarcopenic obesity, it might be argued that exercise training should be utilized instead of or in conjunction with caloric restriction. There was also a greater preservation of lean tissue with exercise-induced weight loss compared to caloric restriction-induced weight loss.

While the results of the present study do not suggest that EAAMR would be sufficient to completely prevent the reduction of lean tissue during caloric restriction-induced weight loss, the study was able to demonstrate the preferential reduction of adipose tissue with 7% weight loss.

In conclusion, it is proposed that high quality protein in addition to essential amino acids represent a critical variable in the preservation of lean tissue and augmentation of adipose tissue reduction in the elderly population.

REFERENCE

1. Coker et al. Nutrition Journal 2012, 11:105 http://www.nutritionj.com/content/11/1/105

October 6th, 2015

About the Author:

 
Andrew Goldman

Andrew Goldman is the Vice President of Marketing for NutraScience Labs. In this role, he leverages his 15+ years of B2B inbound marketing experience to develop cutting edge strategies for our firm. A health and fitness enthusiast, Andrew and his team won the 2012 Stevie Award for Marketing Team of the Year. He is also a two-time Best In Biz Silver Award winner for Marketing Executive of the Year and has received other honors and accolades for his website design work.