Revised Reference Values for the Intake of Protein

Abstract

Background: Following a timely update process, the nutrition societies of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (D-A-CH) revised the reference values for the intake of protein in 2017. The Working Group conducted a structured literature search in PubMed considering newly published papers (2000– 2017). Summary: For infants < 4 months, the estimated values were set based on the protein intake via breast milk. Reference values for infants > 4 months, children, adolescents, pregnant, and lactating women were calculated using the factorial method considering both requirement for growth and maintenance. For adults, reference values were derived from nitrogen balance studies; for seniors (> 65 years), reports on metabolic and functional parameters under various protein intakes were additionally considered. Reference ­values (g protein/kg body weight per day) were set as follows: infants < 4 months: 2.5–1.4, children: 1.3–0.8, adults < 65 years: 0.8, adults > 65 years: 1.0. Key Messages: The reference values for infants, children, adolescents, and adults < 65 years are essentially unchanged compared to recently published values. Scientifically reliable data published between 2000 and 2017 guided the D-A-CH Working Group to set a higher estimated value for adults > 65 years. Since the energy consumption continuously decreases with age, this new estimated protein intake value might be a challenge for the introduction of food-based nutrition concepts for older people.

The Relationship Between Healthy Eating Motivation and Protein Intake in Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Varying Functional Status

“…Mean protein intake was 0.9 g/kg BW, which is fairly similar to the results of larger surveys reporting intakes between 0.9-1.0 g/kg BW among community-dwelling, older adults aged ≥65 years and older [12,35,36]. Nevertheless, only 37.6% reached the age-adapted, recommended amount of 1.0 g/kg BW according to the guidelines from the German Nutrition Society [37] and more than 30% had low relative protein intake <0.8 g/kg BW, the amount recommended for younger adults (Table 1). Compared to a Dutch study [38] with 15% community-dwelling older adults having protein intake <0.8 g/kg BW, our group of older adults showed a higher prevalence of low relative protein intake.…”

Moderators of the Association Between Serum Parathyroid Hormone and Metabolic Syndrome in Participants with Elevated Parathyroid Hormone: NHANES 2003–2006

“…Low protein intake is also shown to contribute to relatively low PTH in older adults on hemodialysis [25], suggesting that the corollary -high protein intake increases PTH -may also be true. In the present study, the cut-off for protein intake was 74 g/day, which is higher than the recommended value of 0.8 g protein/kg body weight per day, corresponding to a recommended daily protein intake of 55-57 g of protein for men and 47-48 g protein for women [26].…”

Mangelernährung im Alter – Screening und Assessment

“…Studienergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass ältere Menschen mehr Proteine als jüngere benötigen, um die Muskelmasse zu erhalten [18]. Die DGE hat ihren Referenzwert zur Proteinzufuhr für gesunde ältere Menschen von einer Emp-fehlung (0,8 g/kg KG/Tag) in einen Schätzwert (1 g/kg KG/Tag) umgewandelt; Grund dafür ist, dass eine genaue Ableitung des durchschnittlichen Bedarfs, basierend auf den momentanen Studienergebnissen, nicht möglich ist [19]. In Positionspapieren schlagen Expertengruppen folgende Proteinzufuhrwerte vor: ▪ für rüstige ältere Menschen 1-1,2 g/kg KG/Tag, ▪ für akut oder chronisch Kranke 1,2-1,5 g/kg KG/Tag und ▪ für ältere Menschen mit Mangelernährung bis zu 2 g/kg KG/Tag [18,20].…”