There is evidence to suggest a potential role for milk and dairy foods in helping to maintain muscle mass and function in older people.
A number of studies point to the benefits of milk protein for increasing muscle protein synthesis in the elderly, and that supplementation, in combination with physical activity, can improve muscle mass and function. There is some evidence too, that older people with higher intakes of milk, cheese and yogurt have greater muscle mass and better functional capacity. In addition to high-quality protein for muscle health, the rich mix of other nutrients in milk and dairy foods make them a valuable part of the diets of older people.
You can download an overview on Dairy and Muscle Mass Maintenance here
Some of the presentations on muscle mass maintenance in older people from our conferences and symposia are below.
Federation of European Nutrition Societies (FENS) 14th European Nutrition Conference, Belgrade, November 2023
Symposium: Food matrix matters - exploring differences in the nutritional and health effects of whole foods, fortified foods and supplements
Dr Oliver Witard, King’s College London - Taking a food first approach to protein recommendations: the matrix effect
European Geriatric Medicine Society Congress (EuGMS), London, September 2022
A focus on food: effective nutritional approaches to improve musculoskeletal health in older people
Dr Sandra Iuliano, University of Melbourne
Fractures and falls - prevention through food. Results of a dairy intervention trial for older people in residential care
Dr Berber Dorhout, Wageningen University
Muscle health and sarcopenia in the ageing population - the benefits and practical challenges of an intervention combining dietary protein and exercise
Watch the symposium and download the symposium brochure.
European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD) Food Matrix Webinar, June 2022
Webinar - From athletes to older adults: food-focused approaches for maximising the health effects of protein
Dr Nicholas A Burd, University of Illinois, USA
Food matrix effects – implications for the impact of protein on muscle
Dr Caoileann Murphy, Teagasc, Trinity College Dublin and Australian Catholic University
Practical aspects of optimising food-focused protein nutrition
Download the webinar booklet
Watch the webinar here
Federation of European Nutrition Societies (FENS) 13th European Nutrition Conference, Dublin, October 2019
Symposium on Beyond nutrients: health effects of the dairy matrix:
Professor René Rizzoli, University Hospitals of Geneva
Dairy matrix effects on musculoskeletal health
DCNI Nutrition & Health Conference, Belfast, April 2019
Professor Luc van Loon, University of Maastricht
Muscle mass maintenance in older people: protein and physical activity
DCNI & European Milk Forum (EMF) Symposium, Belfast, October 2017
Dr Michelle McKinley, Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast
Muscle, bones and body fat: dairy matrix effects on body composition
World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (WCO–IOF–ESCEO), Malaga, April 2016
Understanding sarcopenia: causes, mechanisms and consequences
Dr Alfonso J Cruz Jentoft, Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid
Dairy protein and muscle mass maintenance: preventing sarcopenia
Dr Lex Verdijk, University of Maastricht, the Netherlands
Osteosarcopenia: cross–talking between muscle and bone
Dr Véronique Coxam, Clermont–Ferrand University, France
DCNI Nutrition & Health Conference, May 2014
Professor Luc van Loon, University of Maastricht, the Netherlands
Maintenance of muscle mass in older people – effects of diet and physical activity