Results: POWR-UP ended December, 2015, and the results are now being analyzed and reported. We found that the high protein weight loss diet was very well accepted and thus successfully implemented. Protein intakes in the high protein group exceeded the target, with average intakes of 31, 35, and 40 g for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. More importantly, both groups lost significant amounts of body weight and robustly improved their function. The primary measure of function (distance walked in 6 minutes) was significantly increased at 4 months in the high protein group; by 6 months the control group also improved. Many other function tests improved in both groups; body fat and waist circumference were also reduced. Another interesting finding was that older women tended to lose more weight but in a slower manner than younger participants. In summary, our findings support the feasibility and the strong potential functional benefits of including a protein-enhanced weight loss regimen in obesity interventions for older women.
Significance of findings for the industry: The POWR-UP trial is the first to use pork protein to promote muscle function during an intervention for sarcopenic obesity. It provides a valuable illustration of the health-related attributes of lean pork, such as acceptance, use for weight control, and functional benefits as much or greater than with the control diet. These benefits occurred using a diet with 2 servings of lean pork every day for 6 months. Our findings agree with growing scientific evidence (including from our laboratory) that an optimal quality, quantity, and meal distribution of protein aids muscle protein synthesis and function, and likely other metabolic systems as well. If these findings continue to be extended and confirmed, they will lend important support to an upwards revision of protein intake recommendations for older adults, a very important advantage to the industry as a whole.
Professor of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center
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bales001 @mc.duke.edu