Boomers are rapidly aging, and that means food and beverages targeted to their needs will be steadily increasing over the next two decades. One of the most common maladies of aging is sarcopenia, a progressive decline in muscle mass and strength. Sarcopenia can be controlled by exercise and diet―most notably protein, particularly those rich in essential amino acids.
The first boomers are set to turn 65 in 2011, and by 2030, the number of U.S. citizens 65 years and older is expected to reach 71 million, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making one in every five Americans considered “elderly.”
Medially speaking, sarcopenia is defined as a 3% to 8% reduction in lean muscle mass every 10 years after the age of 30. This can lead to a decline in strength, power, functional ability and daily living for approximately 45% of those over age 65. As it ages, the body’s ability to convert amino acids into muscle tissue becomes less efficient. However, consuming higher levels of essential amino acids might rev up muscle building and halt, or reverse, the loss of muscle mass. While the level needed is unknown, research hints that consuming a specific amount of protein―perhaps more than the current RDA― may translate to a maximum muscle-building effect.
