Dietary protein intake by meal types in adults aged 51 years and over: WWEIA, NHANES 2011-2012

Evenly distributing daily protein intake at meals has been suggested to improve muscle mass among older adults. The aim of this research is to evaluate protein intake and its distribution across three meal types (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Nationally representative dietary intake data of adults aged 51 years and older who reported consuming breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the intake day from What We Eat in America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2012, were analyzed. Total mean daily protein intake and protein intake per meal type were determined. The proportion of individuals consuming ≥25 g protein per meal type and across all three meal types was estimated. Of men and women aged 51 years and over, 64% and 71% consumed three meal types on the intake day, respectively. Men had significantly higher mean daily protein intake than women (84.4 ± 2.33 g vs. 60.9 ± 1.21 g, p < 0.0001). Regardless of gender, dinner contributed most protein by meal type. Among reporters of three meal types, 17, 55, and 73% of men and 5, 36, and 53% of women consumed ≥25 g protein at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, respectively. Only 8% of men and 1% of women had protein intake of ≥25 g at each of the three meal types.