Protein and amino acid requirements of the elderly.

This paper has reviewed changes in body composition and protein metabolism that are associated with aging. Body protein mass decreases. Rates of both muscle and whole-body protein turnover/kg body weight decrease, and the percentage of turnover contributed by muscle to whole-body turnover decreases with age. Total plasma proteins, albumin, prealbumin, transferrin and ceruloplasmin levels decline with age, and, in the case of albumin levels, the decline continues when young-old are compared with old-old. Protein requirement of the elderly appears to have been underestimated by the factorial method. Nitrogen balance studies indicate a minimum of 0.7 g protein/kg/day in one study. Several studies show 0.8 g, whereas other studies show negative nitrogen balance at this level. The recommended protein intake is 1 g protein/kg/day, and 12-14% of total calories should be provided by protein. The few nitrogen balance studies that attempted to determine essential amino acid requirements are limited and contradictory.