Abstract
From 50 years of age, postmenopausal women are at an increased risk of developing
sarcopenia and osteoporosis as a result of deterioration of musculoskeletal health.
Both disorders increase the risk of falls and fractures. The risk of developing sarcopenia
and osteoporosis may be attenuated through healthy lifestyle changes, which include
adequate dietary protein, calcium and vitamin D intakes, and regular physical activity/exercise,
besides hormone replacement therapy when appropriate. Protein intake and physical
activity are the main anabolic stimuli for muscle protein synthesis. Exercise training
leads to increased muscle mass and strength, and the combination of optimal protein
intake and exercise produces a greater degree of muscle protein accretion than either
intervention alone. Similarly, adequate dietary protein intake and resistance exercise
are important contributors to the maintenance of bone strength. Vitamin D helps to
maintain muscle mass and strength as well as bone health. These findings suggest that
healthy lifestyle measures in women aged >50 years are essential to allow healthy
ageing. The European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and
Osteoarthritis (ESCEO) recommends optimal dietary protein intake of 1.0–1.2 g/kg body weight/d with at least 20–25 g of high-quality protein at each main meal, with adequate vitamin D intake at 800 IU/d to maintain serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels >50 nmol/L as well as calcium intake of 1000 mg/d, alongside regular physical activity/exercise 3–5 times/week combined with protein
intake in close proximity to exercise, in postmenopausal women for prevention of age-related
deterioration of musculoskeletal health.
Abbreviations:
25(OH)D (25-hydroxyvitamin D), BMD (bone mineral density), DXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), HRT (hormone replacement therapy), IGF-I (insulin-like growth factor-I), mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), QoL (quality of life), RCT (randomized controlled trial), RNI (recommended nutrient intake), VDR (vitamin D receptor)Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 17, 2014
Accepted:
July 3,
2014
Received:
July 2,
2014
Identification
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© 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
