Joanna Cosgrove10.11.10
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are an estimated 40 million Americans aged 65 and older this year, with the Baby Boomer generation averaging between the age of 46 to 64. Projections estimate that by 2030 all of the Baby Boomers will be considered part of the “older population,” and along with that growth will come an increased influx of age-related health ailments. One common ailment is sarcopenia, or age-related muscle loss, a condition that diminishes one’s strength and ability to function, contributing to the “frailty” of old age.
In August, the Journal of American Medical Directors Association published a report suggesting that while protein supplementation might slow the loss of muscle mass, “a high leucine and essential amino acid protein blend may be more effective at maintaining and building muscle mass in older persons.” The report was authored by a group of clinical experts in aging health and was based on more than a year’s worth of work sponsored by the independent group, Society for Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Wasting Disease.
Last year, Dr. A. Elizabeth Sloan, Nutraceuticals World's TrendSense author, wrote about how sarcopenia impacts 45% of people over age 60 and more than half of those over the age of 80. She also reported that the condition could be prevented or lessened by combining strength-building exercise with a supplement regimen that included protein, certain amino acids, and other health promoting dietary ingredients such as creatine, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium and vitamin D.
Dr. Mark Anderson, director of research and development at Triarco Industries Inc. in Wayne, NJ, echoed Dr. Sloan’s remarks and said that finding ways to improve protein intake and absorption in older adults is vital to improving overall health and quality of life. “Each year between the ages of 30 and 60 the average person can expect to lose a half-pound of muscle. At the same time, the average person will also gain one pound of fat. As the years go by, this shift in body composition really adds up,” he explained. “At some point between the ages of 50 and 75, an average person may have lost some 25% of their lean muscle mass. This age related muscle loss not only changes our appearance, but it can affect the immune system, increase our risk of injury and disability, and may even play a role in chronic conditions like diabetes and osteoporosis. Finding ways to improve protein intake and absorption in older adults is vital to improving overall health and quality of life.”
In August, the Journal of American Medical Directors Association published a report suggesting that while protein supplementation might slow the loss of muscle mass, “a high leucine and essential amino acid protein blend may be more effective at maintaining and building muscle mass in older persons.” The report was authored by a group of clinical experts in aging health and was based on more than a year’s worth of work sponsored by the independent group, Society for Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Wasting Disease.
The panel recommended that older Americans consume about 30-40 grams of protein that is high in the amino acid leucine to help circumvent age-related muscle loss. Reducing muscle loss, they explained, disrupts the cycle of muscle loss leading to decreased physical activity, which contributes to the onset and incidence of chronic diseases affiliated with advanced age.
In a newsletter, the lead author of the panel, Dr. John Morley of the Geriatric Department at Saint Louis University Medical School, discussed the importance of protein in the diet of the aging population. “As the energetic efficiencies of older persons decreases more effective protein sources should be supplemented in the diet so that muscle mass can be maintained and built and thus reduce the risks of age-associated health decline,” he said. “In addition to the use of high leucine protein sources in the diet, daily exercise and activity is important as is the supplementation of vitamin D.”
Product Support
Given the far-reaching impact of sarcopenia, it’s no wonder that manufacturers in the supplement industry have been hard at work formulating products that deliver beneficial results.
HealthSpan Solutions LLC of Marietta, GA, recently expanded the distribution of its BeneVia brand of nutritional drinks, which were clinically developed and scientifically substantiated with a patented high leucine essential amino acid protein source called ViaLeuPro.
“These new health expert recommendations support our own clinical research and patent positions on leucine/essential amino acids over the last five years and point out the importance that targeted healthy nutrition (i.e., therapeutic nutrition) can play to maintain a healthy aging process,” commented John Troup, PhD, president of HealthSpan Solutions.
Low calorie, low sugar and fat free, BeneVia products contain nutrients clinically tested and proven to aid in managing the most common health conditions faced by boomer consumers using ingredient like ViaLeuPro, phytosterols, omega 3 DHA, lutein, vitamin D and calcium.
BeneVia is fruit juice-based and available in four formulations: Cranberry Lemon flavored Strength & Energy, Pineapple Lulo flavored Heart Health, Peach Mango flavored Memory & Focus, and Blueberry Pomegranate flavored Immune Protect.
Triarco Industries has also developed a product it believes is highly relevant in the battle against sarcopenia.
Adequate protein intake is essential for muscle mass maintenance, however, upwards of 40% of Americans, age 70 and older, do not consume enough quality protein. “The body produces fewer endogenous digestive enzymes as we age, meaning that our ability to break down traditional sources of protein (from meat and fish) and absorb amino acids may be compromised,” explained Triarco’s Dr. Anderson. “Nitrogen retention, which is a measure of how much protein is conserved during digestion, can therefore also be affected. Additionally, poor digestion of protein can cause uncomfortable symptoms such gas, bloating and constipation, which can discourage older consumers from getting all of the protein they need.”
A 2008 study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that adding Aminogen digestive enzyme system to whey protein favorably impacted three important factors related to aging metabolism: the product helped to triple the rate of protein absorption, increase branched‐chain amino acid absorption by 250% and increased nitrogen retention by 32%.
Dr. Anderson went on to say that these findings have led to proposed research on Aminogen’s effect and relevance in sarcopenia applications.
“Unlike enzymes that are destroyed in the stomach or must be enterically coated, Aminogen is designed to work within the various pH levels throughout the digestive tract,” he said. “It will not be deactivated in the stomach, and has been shown to work in the pH of the small intestine, where most amino acid digestion takes place.”
Although Amniogen is featured in whey protein formulations marketed toward bodybuilders, Dr. Anderson said the product delivers the same benefits to older consumers that it delivers to athletes interested in gaining muscle mass. “Much of what makes Aminogen a great addition to a bodybuilding whey protein…is what also makes Aminogen ideal for older adults wanting to maintain their lean muscle mass,” he said. “Plus, Aminogen’s ability to triple the rate of protein absorption and reduce symptoms of incomplete protein digestion make it ideal for tablet and capsule applications that older adults can take with their regular meals and snacks, in addition to their whey protein.