The advantages of whey protein powder on muscle progress and restoration are effectively established, with analysis displaying that an amino acid present in whey (leucine) stimulates muscle protein synthesis and promotes power.
As muscle mass naturally declines with age, many older adults are liable to sarcopenia. The chance of sarcopenia is influenced by components comparable to diminished bodily exercise and poor vitamin, with analysis suggesting that as much as 46% of older adults don’t devour sufficient protein.
Protein dietary supplements can subsequently be an efficient intervention to forestall muscle losing in older adults, significantly when mixed with resistance coaching. Nevertheless, current analysis has discovered that the advantages could lengthen far past muscle well being.
Advantages of protein supplementation for older adults
In response to a study printed just lately within the American Journal of Medical Diet, whey protein powder fortified with B nutritional vitamins and taurine could enhance cognition in older adults with delicate cognitive impairment.
These within the protein group additionally noticed elevated muscle mass following the 12-month intervention, suggesting a probably synergistic impact.
The outcomes additionally indicated that whey protein fortified with nutritional vitamins holds the potential to focus on different illness areas, as dietitian Dr. Carrie Ruxton instructed NutraIngredients.
“There was proof of slight weight achieve with the protein powder in addition to an enchancment in blood ranges of vitamin B and a decreasing of homocysteine—a marker which signifies low B vitamin standing and is related to heart problems threat,” she defined.
A variety of research have assessed the advantages of whey protein on cardiovascular threat, with one meta-analysis discovering that of 4 sorts of high-quality protein, whey ranked high for enhancing cardiometabolic well being in hypertensive or obese people.
A day by day dose of whey protein powder has additionally been proven to moderate blood sugar, promote immunity and reduce inflammation.
The protein market
In response to market analysis information from Mordor Intelligence, the UK dominates the European whey protein market, holding roughly 16% of the market share in 2024.
And whereas the first shoppers within the UK are people between the ages of 18 and 35 who interact in health actions (in accordance with e-commerce firm Alibaba), there’s additionally a rising section of older adults who’re incorporating protein dietary supplements into their diets to assist muscle upkeep and total well being.
“Producers are lacking a trick by advertising excessive protein meals principally to younger adults and people participating in resistance coaching,” mentioned Dr. Ruxton. “Research present older adults can profit from increased protein intakes as this preserves muscle mass, helps to forestall frailty and preserves cognitive perform.”
And because the analysis panorama continues to evolve, Simon Jurkiw, product director at protein retailer Bulk, predicts that new tendencies and product-positioning methods will start to emerge.
“Positioning protein merchandise instantly for older adults will grow to be extra commonplace as a means of sustaining muscle mass. It’s extra doubtless that new manufacturers or sub-brands will emerge to successfully goal an older demographic,” he mentioned, explaining that Bulk is beginning to see a shift in buyer demographics.
“This shift is two-fold,” he mentioned. “There’s a pure evolution the place those that have been introduced into the whey protein class 10 to twenty years in the past are actually turning into older adults. Secondarily, the rising analysis and extra mainstream acceptance of protein is bringing extra older adults into the whey protein class.”
Product innovation alternatives
Whereas the trade can anticipate to see new merchandise come to market in coming years, significantly if the hyperlink between protein and cognitive perform turns into effectively established, there are obstacles from a regulatory perspective, Jurkiw defined.
“It’s a problem to make particular claims on sure populations with out the corresponding well being claims,” he mentioned. “For instance, there aren’t any permissible claims linking protein and cognition.
“With elevated analysis on whey protein and cognition, I anticipate to see extra product innovation on this space. Doubtlessly combining whey protein with acknowledged cognitive elements alongside nutritional vitamins and minerals to supply a cognitive well being declare.”
How a lot protein do we actually want?
To ensure that this complement to make waves within the older grownup market, the primary hurdles to deal with are protein pointers and reference intakes, Dr. Ruxton mentioned.
“Protein suggestions throughout many European international locations are extremely conservative and are primarily based on out-of-date common physique weights,” she defined. “Within the UK, the long-standing recommendation for ladies to eat 45 g a day of protein was primarily based on a mean physique weight of 60 kg however, as of late, girls weigh 73 kg on common,” she defined.
Dr. Ruxton added that it’s also vital to think about the differing wants of sedentary folks and lively folks, who sometimes want extra protein for muscle progress and restoration.
“Present protein suggestions are modeled on the necessities of sedentary folks,” she mentioned. “The American Faculty of Sports activities Medication states that individuals who recurrently train want 1.2 to 2.0 g/kg physique weight day by day. Going again to our 70 kg lady, who could also be going to the gymnasium a number of instances per week, that may quantity to a minimal of 84 g of protein day by day—70% increased than the official suggestion. If we wish to encourage folks to train, absolutely we have to promote increased protein intakes to gas this.”
Nevertheless, consuming excessive volumes of protein-rich meals will be tough for older adults who typically see their appetites dwindle of their later years.
“If folks can’t devour sufficient from pure meals, then protein powders and bars are a handy high up,” Dr. Ruxton mentioned.
