Nutritional recommendations for management of sarcopenia published

Aug 31 2010

Nutritional recommendations for the management of sarcopenia -- also described as age-related muscle and functional loss -- were published this past week in the clinical publication, Journal of American Medical Directors Association (July – Volume 11:391 -396)  (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20627179). It suggests that while adequate protein supplementation might slow 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 publication was authored by a leading group of respected global clinical experts in aging health based on more than 12 months of work by the consensus panel sponsored by the independent group, Society for Sarcopenia, Cachexia and Wasting Disease.

As Americans Get Older, the Economic Burdens for Healthcare Increase Due to Preventable Chronic Diseases

Age-related muscle and functional loss (i.e., sarcopenia) has been estimated to have an economic burden related to health care costs in the United States of $18.5 billion per year. As the amount of muscle mass decreases and fat mass increases with age, activity levels are compromised resulting in an increased risk of health decline and leading to age-associated health complications and higher levels of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease -- and thus higher health care costs.  

Nearly 70% of healthcare expenditures have been reported by the healthcare industry for support of preventable chronic disease management.  Over 60% of life-time health care costs are incurred after the age of 60 years.  Managing or avoiding age related functional loss with nutritional therapy and support can therefore improve the cost effectiveness of health care.

Inadequate Nutrition is Rising in Baby Boomers While Exercise & Activity Levels are on the Decline

Observable changes in body mass and function with age is in part a result of inadequate nutritional practices and habits -- most notably protein energy under-nutrition and has been observed in up to 40% of consumers over 50 years of age.  This complicates the age-related resistance that muscle has to rebuild and maintain -- making the need greater for daily use of specialized and more effective types of protein energy.  Further complicating this effect is the lack of physical activity with age which further leads to loss of muscle function and size and, in turn, facilitates the effects that poor diet already has on the body.

For these reasons the panel recommended that older Americans consume more total protein daily (approximately 30 to 40g per day more or up to 1.5g protein/kg body weight vs. current recommendation of 0.8g protein/kg body weight) and that this protein source preferably be very high in the amino acid leucine and the essential amino acids to overcome age resistance of muscle and effectively build muscle as consumers age. In so doing, the incidence of chronic disease and age related disability can, over time, gradually decrease across America.

The lead author of the panel recommendation, Dr. John Morley of the Geriatric Department at Saint Louis University Medical SchoolAs 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 went on to say that, "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."

New Nutritional Beverage Helps Aging Americans Get Adequate Nutrition Providing Convenient and Effect Management for Healthy Aging

At the same time, HealthSpan Solutions, LLC -- makers of the clinical nutrition beverage, BeneVia® , announced that distribution of its therapeutic nutrition products will be expanded across America this year and supported by continuing education programs for healthcare practitioners and consumers alike.  

"These new health expert recommendations support our own clinical research and patent positions on leucine/essential amino acids over the last 5 years and point out the importance that targeted healthy nutrition (i.e., therapeutic nutrition) can play to maintain a healthy aging process," said John Troup, Ph.D., President of HealthSpan Solutions.

"These results have important implications for improving health care and maintaining active lifestyles of boomer and older consumers," Troup went on to comment.  "For this reason we are proud to offer consumers the only patent protected healthy clinical nutrition drink available in the market that provides the recommended nutritional profile highlighted in this new publication. Additionally, our web site www.gobenevia.com will provide the latest educational information and publications on the use of nutrition for healthy aging."

BeneVia® nutritional drinks were clinically developed and scientifically substantiated with the patented high leucine essential amino acid protein source called "ViaLeuPro"™. Published clinical studies have shown significant improvement in muscle function with age, over typical protein sources.  Full clinical reports on the protein energy benefits of BeneVia® are also available online at  GoBeneVia.com