Protein Intake and Its Association With Meal Patterns and Dietary Patterns in a Swedish Population of Older Adults

Meeting protein intake recommendations is relevant for maintaining muscle mass. This study aimed to describe protein intake and its association with meal patterns and dietary patterns.

An in-house designed, web-based 4-day record was used in the national dietary survey (in 2010/2011). Participants 60 years and older were included in the analysis (n = 533). Protein intake was described by hour of consumption, self-indicated meals and food source. Eating and drinking occasion (EDO) and food groups were defined, from which meal patterns and three a posteriori dietary patterns (using principal component analysis) were assessed.

We observed a mean protein intake of just over 1 g/kg body weight (bw) in both men and women. Over 50% of the protein intake was sourced from the food groups meat, fish and milk/yoghurt. A bolus intake of 30 g protein per meal was observed in a small proportion of participants at breakfast and lunch, but was most common at dinner (41% women and 56% men). No strong correlations were observed between protein intake and neither dietary patterns nor the number of EDOs. A 5 g higher protein intake at any meal, but not higher EDO frequency, was associated with higher odds of meeting a protein intake over 1.1 g/kg bw.

Protein intake over 1.1 g/kg bw was met by 44% of the participants. Lunch and dinner were the highest contributors to protein intake. Dietary and meal patterns were weakly associated with protein intake. Only total daily protein intake was associated with reaching > 1.1 g/kg bw.