Assessment of Dietary Protein Needs of Older Women

Purdue University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Protein-energy; Imbalance

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: dietary control

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT01193946

1001008857

UL1RR025761 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to evaluate dietary protein requirements in elderly women aged 80 years and older using the indicator amino acid oxidation technique.

Hypothesis to be tested: Protein requirement for elderly women is higher than the estimated average requirement of 0.66 g∙kg-1∙d-1 protein. The recommended protein intake for elderly women is higher than the recommended dietary allowance of 0.80 g∙kg-1∙d-1 protein.

Full description

There is currently considerable debate regarding the accuracy of the estimated average requirement (EAR) and the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for older people. Very limited data obtained from older individuals are available to support the assumption that age does not affect protein requirement. Existing method like nitrogen balance has inherent limitations that diminish it from being considered a reference method. Indicator amino acid oxidation technique is emerging as an alternative method to measure dietary protein requirement. It is more accurate and less demanding. The current study will be the first time this technique is used with elderly adults and will provide an important foundation for geriatric nutrition research.

Enrollment: 8 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 80+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Female
• Age range: 80 yrs and older
• Body mass index between 22-30
• Weight stable 4.5 kg weight gain or loss within the last 6 month
• Non-smoking within the last 6 month
• Ambulatory
• Clinically normal blood profiles within 10% of clinical normalc.
• No diseases or not taking medications known to influence protein or energy metabolism,
• Willingness and ability to consume food provided and not allergic to phenylalanine
• Continent, strong bladder control

Exclusion criteria

• Male,
• Gained or lost more than 4.5 kg of body weight within the last 6 months,
• Non-ambulatory (i.e. bedridden, wheel-chair bound),
• Clinically abnormal blood profiles as identified by our study physician, Arthur Rosen, MD

Trial design

8 participants in 1 patient group

Single-arm design

Description:

There is currently considerable debate regarding the accuracy of the estimated average requirement (EAR) and the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for older people. Very limited data obtained from older individuals are available to support the assumption that age does not affect protein requirement. Existing method like nitrogen balance has inherent limitations that diminish it from being considered a reference method. Indicator amino acid oxidation technique is emerging as an alternative method to measure dietary protein requirement. It is more accurate and less demanding. The current study will be the first time this technique is used with elderly adults and will provide an important foundation for geriatric nutrition research

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: dietary control