Abstract
Background
Maintenance of lean muscle mass and related strength is associated with lower risk
for numerous chronic diseases of aging in women.
Objective
Our aim was to evaluate whether the association between dietary protein and lean mass
differs by physical activity level, amino acid composition, and body mass index categories.
Design
We performed a cross-sectional analysis of a prospective cohort.
Participants/setting
Participants were postmenopausal women from the Women’s Health Initiative with body
composition measurements by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (n=8,298).
Main outcome measures
Our study measured percent lean mass, percent fat mass, and lean body mass index.
Statistical analyses performed
Linear regression models adjusted for scanner serial number, age, calibrated energy
intake, race/ethnicity, neighborhood socioeconomic status, and recreational physical
activity were used to determine the relationship between protein intake and body composition
measures. Likelihood ratio tests and stratified analysis were used to investigate
physical activity and body mass index as potential effect modifiers.
Results
Biomarker-calibrated protein intake was positively associated with percent lean mass;
women in the highest protein quintile had 6.3 percentage points higher lean mass than
the lowest quintile (P<0.001). This difference rose to 8.5 percentage points for physically active women
in the highest protein quintile (Pinteraction=0.023). Percent fat mass and lean body mass index were both inversely related to
protein intake (both P<0.001). Physical activity further reduced percent fat mass (Pinteraction=0.022) and lean body mass index (Pinteraction=0.011). Leucine intake was associated with lean mass, as were branched chain amino
acids combined (both P<0.001), but not independent of total protein. All associations were observed for
normal-weight, overweight, and obese women.
Conclusions
Protein consumption up to 2.02 g/kg body weight daily is positively associated with
lean mass in postmenopausal women. Importantly, those that also engage in physical
activity have the highest lean mass across body mass index categories.
Keywords
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Biography
J. A. Martinez is an assistant research professor, Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson.
Biography
B. C. Wertheim is an assistant scientific investigator, University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson.
Biography
C. A. Thomson is a professor, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson.
Biography
Z. Chen is a professor and chair, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson.
Biography
J. W. Bea is an assistant professor, Department of Medicine, and assistant research scientist, Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson.
Biography
R. Wallace is a professor, Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
Biography
L. Snetselaar is a professor, Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
Biography
M. Allison is a professor, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego.
Biography
R. Nassir is an assistant professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis.
Biography
P. A. Thompson is a professor, Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 30, 2016
Accepted:
October 4,
2016
Received:
January 25,
2016
Footnotes
Supplementary materials: Table 4 is available at www.andjrnl.org
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT The WHI program is funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, and US Department of Health and Human Services through contracts HHSN268201100046C, HHSN268201100001C, HHSN268201100002C, HHSN268201100003C, HHSN268201100004C, and HHSN271201100004C. Support was also provided by Susan G. Komen CCR14299136.
Identification
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© 2017 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
