Nutrient-rich dairy proteins improve appendicular skeletal muscle mass and physical performance, and attenuate the loss of muscle strength in older men and women subjects: a single-blind randomized clinical trial

Abstract

BackgroundAt present, it is unknown whether the use of nutrient-rich dairy proteins improves the markers of sarcopenia syndrome. Therefore, our proposal was to investigate whether adding 210 g of ricotta cheese daily would improve skeletal muscle mass, handgrip strength, and physical performance in non-sarcopenic older subjects.Subjects and methodsThis was a single-blind randomized clinical trial that included two homogeneous, randomized groups of men and women over 60 years of age. Participants in the intervention group were asked to consume their habitual diet but add 210 g of ricotta cheese (IG/HD + RCH), while the control group was instructed to consume only their habitual diet (CG/HD). Basal and 12-week follow-up measurements included appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, handgrip strength by a handheld dynamometer, and physical performance using the short physical performance battery (SPPB) and the stair-climb power test (SCPT). The main outcomes were relative changes in ASMM, strength, SPPB, and SCPT.ResultsASMM increased in the IG/HD + RCH (0.6±3.5 kg), but decreased in the CG/HD (−1.0±2.6). The relative change between groups was statistically significant (P=0.009). The relative change in strength in both groups was negative, but the loss of muscle strength was more pronounced in CG/HD, though in this regard statistical analysis found only a tendency (P=0.07). The relative change in the balance-test scores was positive for the IG/HD + RCH, while in the CG/HD it was negative, as those individuals had poorer balance. In this case, the relative change between groups did reach statistical significance.ConclusionThe addition of 210 g of ricotta cheese improves ASMM and balance-test scores, while attenuating the loss of muscle strength. These results suggest that adding ricotta cheese to the habitual diet is a promising dietetic strategy that may improve the markers of sarcopenia in subjects without a pronounced loss of ASMM or sarcopenia.

Dairy Foods: Current Evidence of their Effects on Bone, Cardiometabolic, Cognitive, and Digestive Health

“…A single blind randomized control trial of 100 adults ages 60 and older assigned participants either to follow their regular diet or to add 70 g of ricotta cheese at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, a total of 210 g daily, to their regular diet. The researchers estimate that the addition of ricotta increased participants’ protein intake from 0.9 to 1.2 g/kg (Alemán‐Mateo and others ). After 12 wk, the participants in the ricotta cheese group had significantly better appendicular skeletal muscle mass ( P = 0.009), suggesting that consuming more dairy protein may contribute to the preservation of lean muscle mass in older adults.…”

Protein supplementation improves lean body mass in physically active older adults: a randomized placebo‐controlled trial

“…These results are in line with previous studies that investigated the benefits of protein supplementation in frail older adults, [30][31][32] while studies assessing the effect of protein supplementation in community-dwelling older adults found contradicting results. Whereas some studies in communitydwelling older adults found improvements of lean body mass with protein supplementation, [33][34][35] others did not find such beneficial effects. 36,37 A potential explanation for these discrepant findings may relate to differences in the included participants.…”

The role of exercise, milk, dairy foods and constituent proteins on the prevention and management of sarcopenia

“…Specifically, a randomised controlled trial over a 12‐week period in nonsarcopenic men and women over 60 years of age found that a daily supplement of dairy improved total appendicular skeletal muscle mass and balance test scores (Alemán‐Mateo et al . ). The dairy intervention was in the form of ricotta cheese, providing an additional 18 g of protein to the habitual diet.…”