Youth, it is said, is wasted on
young. Too busy figuring life they hardly take time to enjoy it. Fortunately, with medical research and scientific progress, lifespans have doubled over last century. We can now start life at fifty and have another go at youth. Health consciousness, appropriate diet and exercise, can make later years of life a pleasant experience. Dietary principles play as especially important role in this regard. Compensating for physiological changes of aging, they can give us better odds at achieving our genetically determined lifespans.The advancing years experience a complex interplay of changes affecting mind, body, and environment. Alterations in organs systems and cellular function can often predispose to malnutrition and a host of chronic illnesses (Servan 1999). Some of these problems can be attributed to decrease in total protein content and are in themselves preventable with appropriate attention to protein content of diet.
A decrease in protein turnover, such as that seen in aging, has far reaching effects (Chernoff 2004). Vital organ systems like heart and lungs slow down, becoming incapable of further exertion. Neural processes like thought, planning and cognition are also affected. The immune system becomes weak, exhibiting a delay and difficultly in dealing with infections (Thompson 1987). Wound healing and repair, which requires a constant supply of amino acids, is also compromised.
Another issue associated with aging is reduced capacity to deal with free radical species. These highly reactive molecules are produced by cells under stress. Free radicals can precipitate a chain reaction, damaging cell membranes and genetic code. They have been implicated in a variety of disease processes from infection, heart attacks and cancer. This inability to handle free radicals is also responsible for aging. It is now believed a high protein diet can be helpful in attenuating many of these problems (Chernoff 2004).
Merely providing proteins through regular diets fail to meet special requirements of elderly. A protein supplement is often needed to ensure easy digestion, rapid absorption and assimilation. The protein supplement should also be of good quality and contain all essential amino acids in adequate quantity. Such a supplement can adequately provide essential amino acids irrespective of gut’s ability to assimilate them. Such a protein supplement will be able to address increase protein demand and malnutrition seen in elderly, restoring ability to build and repair tissues. A good protein supplement also has other significant benefits in elderly that often go unrecognized.
A high protein diet has a ‘thermogenic’ or fat-burning effect. The body spends more energy to assimilate protein than carbohydrates or fats. This energy is often derived from adipose tissue, thus burning fat in exchange for protein (Bloomgarden 2004). Then if protein supplement has whey in it, it can also inhibit cholesterol absorption in gut, reducing risk of obesity and cardiac disease (Nagaoka 1996). Protein supplements that have casein can form a clot in gut, thereby slowing down intestinal motility (Boirie et al. 1997) and giving gut enough time to absorb all amino acids from a meal. This property is important considering that aging also slows down and compromises digestion.
Protein supplements that combine casein with whey multiply advantages of each component. Both casein and whey protein have a group of substances called kinins that can lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels (FitzGerald, 2004.). Both proteins enhance immune system through several mechanisms (Ha and Zemel, 2003). Lactoferrin, in whey protein, binds iron and depriving many micro-organisms of a growth stimulus. Free iron induces formation of free radicals and is one factor responsible for colon cancer. This is also prevented by protein supplements that contain lactoferrin (whey).
Whey also has other antioxidants to offer. It is rich in cysteine, a precursor of Glutathione that is potent at mopping up free radicals (Counous, 2000). This generalized improvement in antioxidant capacity can counter cancerous and aging processes seen in later years of life. Whey protein is also known to enhance memory as it promotes synthesis of a neurotransmitter, serotonin that is involved in cognition and thought (Markus 2002). Milk basic protein, a component of whey, has ability to stimulate proliferation and differentiation of bone forming cells as well as suppress bone resorption as found in vitro and animal studies. This can protect against weak bones, or osteoporosis, especially in post-menopausal women (Toba 2000).
