020849 For Older Men, Bulking Up Does Not Require Beef

New York (Reuters Health) - Older men who are looking to beef up don't necessarily need to eat beef, as long as they are getting enough protein, new study findings suggest.

A vegetarian diet with soy and dairy products as its main protein sources appears to be just as effective in increasing muscle mass for men aged 60 to 70, according to a small study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

As a person ages, it becomes more difficult to maintain muscle mass and strength, both of which can keep bones strong, guard against falls, and help sustain a high quality of life.

While previous research has shown that adequate protein intake coupled with resistive training, such as lifting weights, can help men over age 65 build muscle mass and strength, at least one study has questioned the usefulness of non-beef protein sources.

In the current study, lead Dr. Mark D. Haub of Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, and colleagues sought to determine whether beef might be a better booster of muscle growth in older men than soy or dairy.

One group of 10 men got most of their protein from beef, while the another group of 11 men ate the same amount of protein, but derived from soy. The 3-month study required all of the men to pump iron 3 days a week.

During the study period all of the men underwent a battery of tests that measured body composition, resting energy expenditure and muscle metabolites

Men in both groups had improvements ranging from 14% to 38% in maximal dynamic strength of all muscle groups trained, "with no significant difference between the groups," the authors report.

"These data suggest that increases in muscle strength and size were not influenced by the predominant source of protein consumed by older men with adequate total protein intake," Haub and colleagues conclude.

Two possible disadvantages of the study were its small size and relatively short duration, the authors note. They recommend that future studies include more people and use a longer resistive-training period.

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2002;76:511-517.

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