Associations between protein to non-protein ratio and intakes of other dietary components in a cohort aged 65–75 years: the Nutrition for Healthy Living Study

Rebecca Luong; Rosilene V Ribeiro; Vasant Hirani; Stephen J Simpson; David G Le Couteur; David Raubenheimer; Alison K Gosby

doi:10.1017/S1368980023001726

Public Health Nutrition (Dec 2023)

Associations between protein to non-protein ratio and intakes of other dietary components in a cohort aged 65–75 years: the Nutrition for Healthy Living Study

Rebecca Luong,
Rosilene V Ribeiro,
Vasant Hirani,
Stephen J Simpson,
David G Le Couteur,
David Raubenheimer,
Alison K Gosby

Affiliations

Rebecca Luong: ORCiD; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia Nutrition and Dietetics Group, Sydney Nursing School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
Rosilene V Ribeiro: Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
Vasant Hirani: Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia Nutrition and Dietetics Group, Sydney Nursing School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Hospital, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia ANZAC Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Concord, NSW, Australia
Stephen J Simpson: Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
David G Le Couteur: Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia ANZAC Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Concord, NSW, Australia
David Raubenheimer: Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
Alison K Gosby: Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise and Eating Disorders, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980023001726
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 26
pp. 3023 – 3037

Abstract

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Abstract Objective: Diets with a low proportion of energy from protein have shown to cause overconsumption of non-protein energy, known as Protein Leverage. Older adults are susceptible to nutritional inadequacy. The aim was to investigate associations between protein to non-protein ratio (P:NP) and intakes of dietary components and assess the nutritional adequacy of individuals aged 65–75 years from the Nutrition for Healthy Living (NHL) Study. Design: Cross-sectional. Nutritional intakes from seven-day weighed food records were compared with the Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand, Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, Australian Dietary Guidelines and World Health Organisation Free Sugar Guidelines. Associations between P:NP and intakes of dietary components were assessed through linear regression analyses. Setting: NHL Study. Participants: 113 participants. Results: Eighty-eight (59 female and 29 male) with plausible dietary data had a median (interquartile range) age of 69 years (67–71), high education level (86 %) and sources of income apart from the age pension (81 %). Substantial proportions had intakes below recommendations for dairy and alternatives (89 %), wholegrain (89 %) and simultaneously exceeded recommendations for discretionary foods (100 %) and saturated fat (92 %). In adjusted analyses, P:NP (per 1 % increment) was associated with lower intakes of energy, saturated fat, free sugar and discretionary foods and higher intakes of vitamin B12, Zn, meat and alternatives, red meat, poultry and wholegrain % (all P < 0·05). Conclusions: Higher P:NP was associated with lower intakes of energy, saturated fat, free sugar and discretionary. Our study revealed substantial nutritional inadequacy in this group of higher socio-economic individuals aged 65–75 years.

Published in Public Health Nutrition

ISSN: 1368-9800 (Print); 1475-2727 (Online)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Public aspects of medicine; Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases
Website: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/public-health-nutrition

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