Towards a sustainable dairy sector: The underappreciated role of dairy protein in the preservation of lean tissue mass in the elderly

Sarcopenia has been attributed to a diminished postprandial muscle protein synthetic response. Differences in digestion and absorption kinetics of dietary protein and/or its amino acid composition have been suggested to modulate postprandial muscle protein accretion. The amino acid composition of dairy protein, especially whey, has the potential to confer advantages above other nondairy protein sources in prevention of lean tissue mass loss. This may be attributable to its relative high concentration of the essential amino acid leucine.