Project 444065

The world's population is ageing. In 2016, seniors outnumbered children, for the first time in Canada's history. As people age they lose muscle mass and strength which could lead to falls, broken bones and loss of independence. They also have a weaker immune system and increased susceptible to infections. Amino acids (AAs) are the building blocks of proteins for muscles, bones, and a strong immune system. Getting the right amount of AAs is critical in the elderly. Twenty AAs make up all body proteins; 9 are essential, which means they must be obtained from foods. To assess whether the elderly are getting enough of the 9 essential AAs from foods, we need to first know their requirements. The AA needs of the elderly receives very little attention. National and international recommendations are based on studies in young adults because methods used to study AA requirements in the elderly are too invasive for routine use. Cells of older adults are less sensitive to AAs than young adults, and antioxidant deficiency which can be corrected by supplementing certain AA is common in the elderly. These information suggest that older adults need more AAs than young adults. Our group has been a leader in AA research for over 30 years and current national and international AA requirement in young adults are based on data using our method. We also developed the minimally invasive indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method for studying AA requirements in vulnerable groups like the elderly, and have successfully applied it in children and babies. The goal of this current project is to build on this momentum to apply the minimally invasive IAAO method to determine for the first time the AA requirements in the elderly. This will provide accurate information to set recommendations for the elderly and to help evaluate diet quality to meet their AA needs. This is particularly important with the current global shift towards a more plant-based diet.