Preventing Diabetic Sarcopenia: The Importance of Protein, Leucine, and Vitamin D3 for the Elderly - Health Today

2023-04-24 07:26:54

Pictures, texts/Health Today

Since 2018, Taiwan has officially entered the “senior society”, and 1 out of 7 people is an elderly person. With age, the rate of muscle loss increases, especially after the age of 60, the rate of muscle loss is faster, and the rate of muscle loss is as high as 3% per year. When muscle weakness leads to poor mobility, the rate of sarcopenia also increases. Studies have pointed out that the risk of diabetes combined with sarcopenia is three times that of the general elderly. Muscle loss will lead to increased rates of weakness, falls, and injuries in the future. Therefore, for diabetics, trauma is fatal. Severe cases require hospitalization, or even fail to recover and die. Therefore, how to control sugar and master muscles for the elderly is one of the keys at present.

Figure / Today’s Health

Chen Zien, a nutritionist at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, said that high blood sugar can easily induce inflammation. High blood sugar can lead to increases in chronic inflammation markers interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP), and body inflammation is often accompanied by loss of muscle mass. In addition, skeletal muscle is the main place for blood sugar metabolism and participates in the constant blood sugar. When the muscle is reduced, it is easier to make blood sugar control worse.

In addition, high blood sugar can easily induce oxidative stress, increased blood lipids, insulin resistance, and increased glycated end products (AGEs), all of which will affect the antioxidant effect; when the antioxidant capacity decreases, the proportion of muscle loss and aging will increase.

Figure / Today’s Health

Although diabetic sarcopenia is frightening, nutritionist Chen Zien suggested that it can be prevented and improved by supplementing with 3 nutrients, protein, leucine and vitamin D3.

protein:Since the protein requirement of the elderly is higher than that of the young, skeletal muscle maintenance and growth can be achieved. Therefore, it is recommended to consume 1 to 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram, and an average intake of at least 20 grams of protein per meal is required to stimulate muscle synthesis.
Leucine:Sufficient intake of “leucine” in high-quality protein ingredients is especially important. It is recommended that the elderly should take 2.8 grams to 3.0 grams of leucine per day, which can stimulate muscle synthesis.
Vitamin D:Vitamin D is involved in muscle synthesis and muscle endurance. According to the National Nutrition Survey, vitamin D in the elderly group has not reached the dietary nutrient reference intake standard of the Chinese people, ranking first in the rate of nutrient deficiency. Recent studies have also pointed out that vitamin D will affect musculoskeletal health. It is recommended to supplement 700 to 1000 IU per day to reduce the risk of falls. Implementing diet strategies, maintaining good blood sugar control and exercising habits can prevent and improve diabetic sarcopenia.