New paper: Milk for skeletal muscle health and sarcopenia in older adults

Milk is part of a healthy diet – but is it good for muscle health in older age? In a new paper, Dr Antoneta Granic (AGE Senior Research Associate) and colleagues review the current evidence of the benefits of drinking milk.

The review considers firstly why milk might be important. Milk contains whey protein, which is considered superior to other animal and plant proteins for muscle; for example, in studies of young adults, drinking whole milk after exercise has been shown to reduce muscle soreness and damage. But importantly, apart from its whey content, milk also contains a range of bioactive components, such as bioactive peptides and fatty acids, vitamins (A, D, E, and B complex) and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium) that may be beneficial for muscle.

The second part of the review examines the evidence from observational and intervention studies of older adults, in which the effects of milk on muscle health and function have been evaluated. The findings from these eleven studies were mixed, and the messages from this evidence inconclusive. New studies are needed to improve understanding of the role of milk, as part of a healthy diet, to promote muscle health in older populations.

Granic et al. Milk for skeletal muscle health and sarcopenia in older adults: a narrative review. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 2020; 15:695-714. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S245595

You can read the article here.

Last modified: Wed, 03 Jun 2020 11:43:08 BST