Grant: Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA)

The project involves a comparison between plant-based and dairy-based protein supplementation in older adults (women and men over 50) during resistance training for improving bone health. Additional outcomes include muscle and fat mass, muscular strength, and functional performance (timed-up-and-go to assess coordination/balance, number of chair stands in 30 seconds, and gait speed). Participants are randomized to three groups: Post-exercise supplementation with beverages containing 1) pea protein; 2) dairy protein; 3) almonds (which is very low in protein and serves as a control) during a 3-day per week supervised resistance-training program. Plant-based proteins contain a lower amount of sulfur-based amino acids than milk proteins and are therefore less acidic. This is potentially beneficial because calcium leaves bone as a buffer against increased blood acidity. We hypothesize the pea-based group will experience the greatest increase in bone density (lumbar spine and hip) compared to other groups. Protein intake is important for older adults; therefore, we also hypothesize the pea- and milk-based groups will have greater increases in muscle mass and strength and improvements in functional performance compared to the almond-based group. This nutrition and exercise-training intervention is for 12 months. The study is currently in progress and the student will join the study while it is ongoing. The study will provide important information for prevention of osteoporosis.