Improving Dietary Protein Intake in Adults

Improving Dietary Protein Intake in Adults

A pilot, single-arm investigation used coaching, nutrition education, and a per-meal protein prescription to assess impact on protein intake, muscle strength and function in older adults.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of nutrition education, diet coaching, and a protein prescription (PP) on protein intake, and associations with muscle strength and function. Design: Prospective pretest posttest single-arm study. Setting: Urban area, East coast of South Florida. Participants: Older adults. Intervention: 10-week telephone-based diet coaching, nutrition education and a per-meal PP. Measurements: Protein and energy intakes, weight, grip strength (GS), and 5-chair-rise (5CR), timed up and go (TUG), 3-meter walk (3mW) tests at baseline and 10 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged 55 years or older,
• Community-dwelling (living independently),
• Able to provide consent,
• Able to understand and respond to questions or instructions in English,
• Have a working telephone (for coaching sessions),
• Willingness to consume protein-containing animal products
• Willingness to make changes to the diet

Exclusion Criteria:

• Self-reported information that they have been told by a medical doctor that they have kidney (renal) disease.
• Vegan dietary practices,
• Refusal to make changes to usual dietary protein intake, or a usual dietary protein intake that meets recommendations.