Protein and Vitamin D supplementation in Sarcopenia: A review

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: Perform a review of protein and vitamin D supplementation in Sarcopenia. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: Demographic change implies new demands for public health, with health promotion and prevention activities seeking to delay the appearance of common diseases in elderly population. We performed a review of protein and vitamin D supplementation in Sarcopenia. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: Changes in body composition occur during the aging process, resulting in increased body fat and reduced muscle mass and also bone mass. Sarcopenia is defined by a syndrome characterized by generalized and progressive loss of muscle mass and strength. After 50 years, there is a reduction between approximately 1% and 2% of muscle mass per year. RESEARCH RESULTS: Currently progressive resistance training is the most well-established intervention, and dietary interventions such as protein and vitamin D also mentioned in literature. Leucine is a branched chain amino acid knows as key role in muscle protein synthesis. The consumption of leucine-enriched amino acids showed beneficial effects in the elderly contributing to the conservation of skeletal muscle mass. Vitamin D has pre-hormone functions, vitamin D deficiency is related with diffuse musculoskeletal pain, myopathy, sarcopenia and falls. Vitamin D supplementation of 800 to 1000 IU/day is associated with increased muscle strength in the elderly. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The protein and vitamin D supplementation are strategies that are proving to be important for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia, especially when associated with resistance training.