protein pool & Health

[thea]

Hello,

I've just come back from a big conference about aging and proteins.

In this conference this scientist said that you need to eat more proteins with aging.

I'm speaking that after reading the book of Wai, I begin to eat only 60 gr a day of protein and doesn't lose any muscle.

This scientist laugh. He said : "Right, It's normal that you don't lose muscle but in a few time you risk health problems. Because, you body take proteins from your bone for yours muscles. You lose density of your bone, you risk to have depression and bad immunity.
If you don't eat enough proteins your body take this proteins frome the "proteins pool".

But I cannot answer because I've not scientific study about lower protein intake and health.

Thank you for your answers.

In fact, I have don't lose muscle with 60 gr a day of protein, but are you sure that I don't take this protein from another part of my body system ?

[RRM]

In this conference this scientist said that you need to eat more proteins with aging.

Because?

It's normal that you don't lose muscle but in a few time you risk health problems. Because, you body take proteins from your bone for yours muscles. ... you risk to have depression ...

Then skinny people would have weak bones.
Thats really nonsense.
As sufficient proteins for bone health and for the making of neurotransmitters is extremely important, the body would never do that.
The body perfectly well knows its prioroties.
That is why it is so extremely hard to maintain great muscle mass; as that is the FIRST thing your body will decrease to make supplying everything else 100% certain.

If you don't eat enough proteins your body take this proteins frome the "proteins pool".

The first thing that your body takes from that pool, is the proteins required for essential functions (bone matrix, neurotransmitters etc).
What is left over, can be utilized for maintaining high muscle volume or for energy.

In fact, I have don't lose muscle with 60 gr a day of protein, but are you sure that I don't take this protein from another part of my body system ?

If you can maintain your muscle mass, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Big muscles are the very first to go.

[thea]

Thank you Sir,

great answer. I call this morning at the specialist about protein, he said the same of you.

"If you keep your muscle mass don't be afraid from your bones"

Thank you because for the first time, I keep my protein lower than before and I feel fine

[thea]

IN FACT MANY SCIENTIST TAKE THIS STUDY TO SAID THAT YOU NEED MORE PROTEINS WITH AGING

As we get older our protein needs rise (even if you do not exercise). Data from Bill Evans’ lab in Arkansas indicates that physically inactive adults who ate the RDA (0.8 gm/kg) for protein for a period of 4 months lost muscle mass and never were in positive nitrogen balance. In a follow-up study, a group of older adults followed the same diet but this time added weight-training three days per week. The conclusion was that the RDA for protein is still inadequate for maintaining muscle mass, but weight training helps to preserve or help protect against some of the losses. The take home messages: double the protein (1.6 gm/kg), get grandma to train, and she will live healthier and more vibrant golden years. (4)

[RRM]

The reasoning does not validate the conclusion.
Yes, its harder to maintain your muscle mass as you get older (due to lower levels of anabolic hormones, for example), but that does not mean that the need for protein increases.

And then it is said:

In a follow-up study, a group of older adults followed the same diet but this time added weight-training three days per week. ... weight training helps to preserve or help protect against some of the losses.

While in fact weight training INCREASES the need for protein. And if that diet was already too low in protein, the training would have aggravated the results instead of aleviated.
So, the diet could not have been too low in protein.
Yes, extra protein facilitates more muscle volume, but the 0.8 mg/kg diet could not have been too low in protein.

[thea]

I agree with you. I've reading another study about people who have kidneys problems. This people take low protein intake but when you give at this people some workout training they doesn't lose muscle mass.