ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Nutr.
Sec. Clinical Nutrition
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1547325
Role of Protein Intake in Maintaining Muscle Mass Composition Among Elderly Females Suffering from Sarcopenia
Provisionally accepted
- 1Kampala International University Western Campus, Kampala, Uganda
- 2University of Lahore, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
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Dietary protein is crucial in preserving muscle mass and promoting long-term bone health, particularly in aging populations. The novelty of this study lies in evaluating the impact of varying protein intake levels (0.8 vs 1.2 g/kg b.w/d) on muscle mass composition in elderly females suffering from sarcopenia. For this purpose, in this research trial, a total of 126 participants (60-75 years) were enrolled and equally divided into two groups: normal protein intake (0.8 g/kg b.w/d) and moderately high protein intake (1.2 g/kg b.w/d) for 12 weeks. The effects of dietary protein were assessed using anthropometric measurements, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), handgrip, and knee flexion tests with baseline and post-intervention comparisons. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS, employing paired sample t-test at a significance level of p < 0.05. Results indicated a significant improvement in muscle mass composition with moderately high protein intake. Anthropometric parameters, including body mass (83.51±4.23 kg) and waist circumference (113.90±10.82 cm), showed notable enhancement in the moderately higher protein group. Muscle function and imaging assessments, such as handgrip strength and knee flexion, demonstrated improved functionality. MRI-derived measurements of the muscle composition of the calf (141.23±4.87 MCSA, mm 2 x 10 4 ) and thigh (258.04±7.26 MCSA, mm 2 x 10 4 ) further confirmed the positive impact of increased protein intake. The study concluded that a moderately high protein diet effectively supports muscle health in elderly females with sarcopenia. Therefore, an adequate protein intake may serve as a strategic nutritional intervention to mitigate muscle loss and improve overall physical function in aging women.
Keywords: physical performance, Magnetic resonance image, Anthropometric measurements, Sarcopenia, Dietary Protein
Received: 18 Dec 2024; Accepted: 23 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Atoki, Ishaq, Noreen and Maduabuchi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Ayomide Victor Atoki, Kampala International University Western Campus, Kampala, Uganda
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