Everyone's Health

Protein deficiency; cause for concern,

   especially in elderly

My mother and father are in their 80s, and they frequently say that they no longer have any real appetite. For them, eating has become more of an obligation and a social event than something driven by hunger, they don't seem to eat much of anything, especially protein. They have a piece of fish every now and then, but they usually split an entree when eating out at a restaurant. They eat vegetables and fruit at most meals and have cereal with milk or an occasional egg for breakfast.

Protein deficiencies are a serious issue in developing countries where protein foods are scarce, and deficiencies can be life-threatening. In the U.S. and Canada, however, people tend to have too much protein rather than not enough. This being said, concerns about my parents' diet are not groundless.

For well-nourished people, a protein intake below required levels will not pose problems if it's only for a day or two. If, however, the body consistently fails to get enough protein, it will begin showing signs of deficiency.

Depending on the length and degree, symptoms of an ongoing protein deficiency could include increased susceptibility to disease, poor wound healing, fatigue, anemia, hair and skin problems, mental confusion, pallor, digestive disturbances, muscle wasting and weight loss. If you think about it, many of these symptoms are ones associated with aging.

Surveys have shown that a large proportion of the elderly eat below the adult recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for protein, with the lowest amount being consumed by the homebound elderly. Such surveys went almost unnoticed because the levels involved weren't very far below the RDA.

A report in the October 1994 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that elderly people may actually have a higher protein requirement than other adults. Such research raises serious questions as to whether a chronic protein deficiency may be contributing to the decline of the elderly.

The official RDA for adults is 11 grams of protein for every 30 pounds of body weight. This would be about 55 grams of protein for a 150-pound individual.

According to the journal's findings, however, individuals over 60 should opt for about 14 to 17 grams of protein per day for every 30 pounds of body weight. By this formula, an 150-pound adult over 60 should aim for a daily protein intake of 70 to 85 grams. (If you are overweight, use your ideal body weight for this calculation.)

For reference, there is approximately 30 to 35 grams of protein in a 4-ounce piece of lean fish, meat or chicken, which is about the size of a pack of playing cards. Protein is also present in nuts, seeds, dairy, grains and legumes.

As we consider that it's important to get the protein we need, it must also be stated that an average individual does not benefit from overdoing it. There is no way for the body to store protein for later use. When there is chronic overindulgence with this relatively expensive food, the body has no option but to turn it into fat.

Please understand that there isn't a buzzer that goes off every time you go over or under with any particular nutrient. Always think of the big picture, with a healthful approach to protein, fats, carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables being the word of the day.

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