Sarcopenia Threatens Senior Health… How to Replenish Insufficient Nutrients?

Sarcopenia is one of the factors that undermines the quality of life in old age. While muscle loss is a natural phenomenon of aging, individual differences become increasingly significant as one enters old age. Muscle deficiency not only increases the risk of fractures and falls, hindering daily life, but also has a negative impact on chronic diseases and cognitive function.

To avoid sarcopenia, it is important to supplement with various nutrients, including protein, on a regular basis. Consuming milk, which contains 114 nutrients, is considered a simple way to prevent nutritional deficiencies and help strengthen muscles in the elderly.

 

According to the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the percentage of elderly people aged 65 and older in Korea with insufficient nutrient intake increased significantly from 8.5% in 2013 to 23.8% in 2019 and 22.8% in 2021. This also means that even when consuming a Korean diet consisting mainly of grains and vegetables, they are failing to meet their needs for various nutrients.

There are also research findings indicating that the more frequently elderly people consume milk, the lower the risk of malnutrition. This is the result of an analysis conducted by Professor Kim Woo-kyung’s team at the Department of Food and Nutrition, Dankook University, on the impact of milk and dairy product consumption on nutritional supplementation in old age, targeting 14,196 elderly individuals aged 65 or older. Based on the amount of milk and dairy products consumed, the researchers classified the participants into a non-consumption group with an average daily intake of 0g, a low-consumption group with 44.2g, and a high-consumption group with 226.2g.

 

The analysis results showed that the high-milk intake group had a lower risk of malnutrition compared to the low-intake and non-intake groups. The intake of 11 nutrients, including protein, carbohydrates, lipids, phosphorus, calcium, and riboflavin, was significantly higher in the high-intake group. The more milk and dairy products consumed, the greater the intake of nutrients deficient in the body. In particular, calcium and protein supplementation was sufficient. For those aged 75 and older, consuming milk and dairy products without deficiency had a greater impact on nutritional status.

Professor Kim Woo-kyung stated, “A habit of regularly consuming dairy proteins, such as milk and cheese, can improve skeletal muscle mass and reduce the risk of sarcopenia,” adding, “In particular, consuming dairy products after exercise reduces the risk of inflammation and increases muscle strength.” This analysis suggests that the consumption of milk and dairy products can be beneficial in preventing sarcopenia by having a favorable effect on lifestyle habits.

Although milk consumption in the elderly increased significantly from 32.1g in 2012 to 55.1g in 2021, it is still far short of the recommended amount of 200ml. Supplementing with various nutrients through milk can help prevent diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and osteoporosis in addition to sarcopenia.

 

Meanwhile, this study was conducted by the Korea Dairy Self-Help Fund Management Committee and Professor Kim Woo-kyung's team from the Department of Food and Nutrition at Dankook University to analyze the nutritional health-promoting effects of milk and dairy product consumption on the elderly. The final research results were announced on the 15th under the title "Study on the Supplemental Effects of Milk and Dairy Products for Nutritional Health Promotion in the Elderly."

 

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To avoid sarcopenia, in everyday life

It is important to supplement various nutrients, including protein.

 

While making sure to eat three meals a day, calcium, protein, magnesium, potassium, etc.

If you drink 1 to 2 glasses of nutrient-rich milk

They say it can help with nutritional supplementation.