Systematic review and meta-analysis of protein intake to support muscle mass and function in healthy adults.

We performed a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression to determine if increasing daily protein ingestion contributes to gaining lean body mass (LBM), muscle strength, and physical/functional test performance in healthy subjects. A protocol for the present study was registered (PROSPERO, CRD42020159001), and a systematic search of Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Sciences databases was undertaken. Only randomized controlled trials (RCT) where participants increased their daily protein intake and were healthy and non-obese adults were included. Research questions focused on the main effects on the outcomes of interest and subgroup analysis, splitting the studies by participation in a resistance exercise (RE), age (<65 or ≥65 years old), and levels of daily protein ingestion. Three-level random-effects meta-analyses and meta-regressions were conducted on data from 74 RCT. Most of the selected studies tested the effects of additional protein ingestion during RE training. The evidence suggests that increasing daily protein ingestion may enhance gains in LBM in studies enrolling subjects in RE (SMD [standardized mean difference] = 0.22, 95% CI [95% confidence interval] 0.14:0.30, P < 0.01, 62 studies, moderate level of evidence). The effect on LBM was significant in subjects ≥65 years old ingesting 1.2-1.59 g of protein/kg/day and for younger subjects (<65 years old) ingesting ≥1.6 g of protein/kg/day submitted to RE. Lower-body strength gain was slightly higher by additional protein ingestion at ≥1.6 g of protein/kg/day during RE training (SMD = 0.40, 95% CI 0.09:0.35, P < 0.01, 19 studies, low level of evidence). Bench press strength is slightly increased by ingesting more protein in <65 years old subjects during RE training (SMD = 0.18, 95% CI 0.03:0.33, P = 0.01, 32 studies, low level of evidence). The effects of ingesting more protein are unclear when assessing handgrip strength and only marginal for performance in physical function tests. In conclusion, increasing daily protein ingestion results in small additional gains in LBM and lower body muscle strength gains in healthy adults enrolled in resistance exercise training. There is a slight effect on bench press strength and minimal effect performance in physical function tests. The effect on handgrip strength is unclear.

Etiquetado frontal: entre la mercadotecnia y las políticas de salud pública / Front of pack nutrition labelling: between marketing and public health policies

El aumento de evidencia de que algunos factores dietarios están asociados con el desarrollo de enfermedades crónicas como la obesidad, diabetes y enfermedad del corazón ha generado numerosas estrategias para orientar la selección de alimentos del consumidor. El etiquetado frontal de alimentos es una iniciativa para presentar información nutricional relevante de forma concisa y clara al frente de los empaques. Actualmente existen diferentes sistemas de etiquetado frontal, algunos comprenden símbolos, otros incluyen calificaciones numéricas o esquemas gráficos para comunicar la calidad nutricional de un producto. Esta diversidad de sistemas de etiquetado frontal crea confusión entre los consumidores porque cada sistema tiene diferentes criterios nutricionales. Actualmente no existe un sistema de etiquetado frontal que sea de aceptación general a nivel global. Una propuesta para diseñar el etiquetado frontal es seleccionar los nutrimentos que se consideren prioridades de salud pública locales, ya sea porque su consumo es excesivo o bien porque la población tiene deficiencias, pero considerando lo que sea entendible por el consumidor (AU)

The increase of the evidences that link some dietary factors to the development of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease, has generated numerous strategies to guide the food selection of the consumer. The front of pack nutrition labelling is an initiative to present concise and clear nutritional information. There are currently different systems of front of pack nutrition labelling; some include symbols, while others include numerical scores or graphic schemes to communicate the overall nutritional quality of a food product. This diversity of systems creates confusion in the consumer because each system has different nutritional criteria. Currently, there is no single, generally accepted system to a global level. A proposal for the design of the front of pack labeling is to select the nutrients that are considered priorities in the light of local public health, either because their consumption is excessive or because the population has deficiencies, but also taking into account what is understandable by the consumer (AU)