Severe illness or hospitalisation extends recovery time considerably. A nutritious high-protein diet supports physical recovery and a return to baseline function.
Inadequate nutrition during recovery is common. In the UK, 70% of patients leave hospital weighing less than at admission[1]. The drivers include illness, loss of appetite, limited access to suitable food, and reduced focus on regular healthy meals. The consequences include loss of strength and muscle breakdown.
Inactivity and immobilisation drive muscle loss
Infographic on muscle loss during periods of functional inactivity and immobilisation, citing English et al. 2010 (Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 13(1): 34–39) and Galvan et al. 2016 (Nutrients, 8, 404).
Protein deficiency drives muscle loss in hospitalised patients
Bed rest during hospitalisation and acute illness accelerate muscle loss and prolong recovery[2][3][4]. Even short stays produce measurable effects: roughly 10 days in bed leads to significant protein and muscle loss in adults of all ages, with older adults losing muscle three to six times faster[5].
The importance of muscle
Muscle mass contributes to overall health and quality of life and plays a role in energy and protein metabolism. When the body lacks fuel, it begins breaking down muscle proteins to supply energy[6].
The positive effects of whey protein on stimulating muscle growth and help counteract muscle loss during bed rest have been proven in several studies[7].
What can be done?
Combining physical activity with diet maintains and improves muscle health. A meta-analysis of high-protein nutritional supplements reports a range of effects in patients recovering from illness:
- Reduced infections
- Improved wound and fracture healing
- Fewer leg and pressure ulcers
- Improved nutritional status
- Increased total energy intake
- Increased total protein intake
Whey protein is among the highest-quality dietary proteins, containing all essential amino acids. In addition, it is easily absorbed and can quickly help restore body tissue and muscle[8]. It also contains leucine: the amino acid most directly associated with muscle protein synthesis. This is a key component in minimising patients’ muscle loss during a hospital stay[9].
[1]https://www.nutritioncare.org/Guidelines_and_Clinical_Resources/Malnutrition_Resources_for_Consumers/
[2]Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Baeyens JP, Bauer JM, et al. Sarcopenia: European consensus on definition and diagnosis: report of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People. Age Ageing. 2010;39(4):412-423.
[3]Pitchard C, Kyle UG, Morabia A, Perrier A, Vermeulen B, Unger P. Nutritional assessment: lean body mass depletion at hospital admission is associated with an increased length of stay. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004;79:613-618.
[4]Wolfe RR. The underappreciated role of muscle in health and disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006;84(3):475-482.
[5]English et al. 2010 Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 13(1): 34-39. Galvan et al. 2016. Nutrients, 8, 404
[6]Deutz et al. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2019 Jan;20(1):22-27
[7]Paddon-Jones et al. 2006. Exp Gerontol. 41; 215-219, Volpi et al. 2003. Am J Clin Nutr. 78; 250-258, Ferrando et al. 2010. Clin Nutr. 29; 18-23, Antonione et al. 2008. J. Nutr. 138; 2212–2216, Pennings et al. 2011. Am J Clin Nutr. 93; 997–1005
[8]Tang et al. J Appl Phsiol. 107: 987-992. 2009, Calbet 2004. Eur J Ntr. 43; 127-139.
[9]FAO Expert Consultation Report 2013. ISSN 0254-4725