News

<Background>

Lower limb muscle function is one of the fitness elements that support independent living and participation in recreational and social activities. A decline in lower limb muscle function is considered a predictor of physical disability or hospitalization. For this reason, active, regular and consistent physical exercise is recommended to prevent a decline in lower limb muscle function. With the help of local middle-aged and senior citizens, we examined whether 1) a high level of skeletal muscle mass is maintained in people with high physical activity levels or with a large protein intake, and whether 2) lower limb muscle function is maintained at a high level in people with high physical activity levels, from the perspective of preventive care and extending healthy life expectancy.

<Results>

About 60 middle-aged and senior citizens participated in the study.

1) It was shown that a protein intake larger than the currently recommended level or maintaining a higher physical activity level is beneficial for maintaining skeletal muscle mass.

2) It was shown that maintaining a high physical activity level is beneficial for maintaining lower limb muscle function.

1） Takae R, Hatamoto Y, Yasukata J, Kose Y, Komiyama T, Ikenaga M, Yoshimura E, Yamada Y, Ebine N, Higaki Y, Tanaka H: Physical activity and/or high protein intake maintains fat-free mass in older people with mild disability: the Fukuoka Island City Study: A cross-sectional study. Nutrients 11(11): E2596, 2019.

2） Takae R, Hatamoto Y, Yasukata J, Kose Y, Komiyama T, Ikenaga M, Yoshimura E, Yamada Y, Ebine N, Higaki Y, Tanaka H, for the Fukuoka Island City Study Group: Association of lower-extremity muscle performance and physical activity level and intensity in middle-aged and older adults: a doubly labeled water and accelerometer study. J Nutr Health Aging 24(9): 1023-1030, 2020.