Sarcopenia, also known as age-related loss of strength and mass is an aging-related problem that is directly connected to the intake of protein

The process of aging can cause a variety of senior issues. One of the most prevalent is accidental weight loss. It can result from a myriad of reasons — such as not being diagnosed with diabetes or an underlying malignancy and malnutrition. One of the most unnoticed causes is Sarcopenia, or the loss of muscle mass due to age.

A doctor aged 84 from Bengaluru recently saw a geriatrician because his clothes began appearing more bulky over several months.

“The losing weight of the man was gradual, it took place over a period of six to eight months. As an ophthalmologist, he was worried over his loss of weight” Dr. Anoop Amarnath. Consultant for medical geriatrics, Manipal Hospitals, Bengaluru, who treated the patient.

“Whenever weight loss happens for the elderly there is a common series of tests that we carry out. These investigations were conducted and the majority of them came back as normal. There wasn’t any malignancy.”

Octogenarians are diagnosed with Sarcopenia, a condition Dr. Amarnath states is prevalent among older adults.

“If an older adult is experiencing weight loss and loss of muscle mass, it would be good to investigate sarcopenia as one of the causes,” he suggests.

In his speech on the importance of protein in healthy aging at the last “The Edge of Nutrition” summit, which Happiest Health organizedHappiest Health organized, Dr. Nandan Joshi, the head of medical matters, nutrition India & Emerging Markets, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, said that the mass of muscle decreases by 3% – 8percent per decade after thirty years of age. This decline rate is more severe after one reaches the threshold of 60.

Dr. Joshi explained how the reduction in muscle mass in older adults might affect their movement and raise the possibility of falling, which can lead to breathing difficulties, a higher likelihood of suffering from insulin resistance, decreased longevity, cardio problems, and long-term hospitalization.

What is the definition of Sarcopenia?

Dr. Amarnath claims that Sarcopenia increases muscle mass as one age.

“There is a correlation between protein intake and sarcopenia,” the doctor states. “So, it is important that as we age there is an adequate amount of protein intake to prevent sarcopenia from happening.”

Proteins are essential to healthy aging.

In 2014, a specialized group from the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) advised increased protein intake for the elderly compared to older adults paired with routine and physical exercise.

Dr. Amarnath advises that instead of following the standard recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for protein intake, it’s better to look at the total energy expenditure.

“If it is an elderly person who is quite active, going for daily walks, not skipping daily exercises, etc., their protein requirement would be on the higher side,” says the doctor. Declares. “If you’re dealing with an extremely elderly person, or a category of people that we call the “old elderly” — a person aged between 80 and 90, or someone who lives in their home or the intake may be smaller. The recommended food amount is based on their physical and energy expenditure.”

Another speaker at the ‘The The Edge of Nutrition’ conference Dr. Anura Kurpad Professor of Physiology, Saint John’s Academy of Health Sciences in Bengaluru, said, “Make sure that the foods that seniors eat are a mixture of milk, legumes, eggs, meat, and eggs foods that have 20% off of protein. If you look at cereals, you will see that they contain 77% protein, meaning they’re not ideal for people who are elderly. It’s important to mix and mix and match.”

Treatment of Sarcopenia

Dr. Amarnath states that Sarcopenia is managed to a great extent. “It is not only nutrition that plays a role here, though,” Dr. Amarnath says. “Exercise can also affect the size of your muscles. This is why a combination of healthy exercise and diet is essential -this combination is the best way to treat Sarcopenia.”