Aging is associated with a progressive decline in skeletal muscle mass and function, termed sarcopenia. Preventing the loss of muscle mass and function is important, since sarcopenia can negatively impact mobility and the quality of life of older people. This presentation will focus on nutritional strategies to support skeletal muscle mass maintenance and healthy muscle metabolism in older adults. Emphasis will be placed on the role of dietary protein intake in supporting skeletal muscle mass maintenance in older adults. Factors such as daily and per meal protein intake recommendations, protein source/quality (including animal- and plant-derived proteins), and the role of protein timing/distribution will be discussed. The synergistic effects of exercise and dietary protein intake on skeletal muscle mass in older adults will also be covered. Other important nutrients including n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and Vitamin D will also be briefly discussed.
Dr. Tyler Churchward-Venne is an Associate Professor and William Dawson Scholar in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education at McGill University, Canada. He joined McGill in 2018 as an Assistant Professor after completing post-doctoral training at Maastricht University (The Netherlands) as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow. He specializes in the application of stable isotope tracer methods to assess the dynamics of protein metabolism in humans at the whole-body and tissue specific (i.e., skeletal muscle) level in response to factors such as nutrient stimuli, exercise, and aging. His research incorporates a range of methodologies including isotope-labelled amino acids and deuterium oxide to study protein turnover, magnetic resonance imaging to quantify changes in muscle size, as well as a variety of molecular biology techniques to probe underlying mechanisms regulating protein synthesis and breakdown. Current projects in his lab are focused on the metabolic and mechanistic basis of age- and disuse-induced muscle loss in humans, and the role of ketone bodies and novel exogenous ketone supplements to protect and restore muscle health in older adults. The ultimate aim of his research program is to contribute to improving the overall health, well-being, and physical functioning of our society.