Nutrition in Clinical Practice Volume XX Number X Month 201X 1 –7 © 2014 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition

hosted at online.sagepub.com Clinical Research The aging process is accompanied by changes in body compo-sition such as a reduction in the musculoskeletal apparatus, leading to sarcopenia, a progressive decline of muscle mass and strength, and also osteoporosis, characterized by a decrease in bone mass and density.1 These changes are related to a higher risk of falls and fractures, which results in a higher inci-dence of incapacity and dependency of elderly people.2,3 Several aspects are associated with both conditions such as hormonal factors, genetic causes, physical activity, and nutri-ents such as protein intake.4 One of the mechanisms through which dietary protein could affect the skeletal muscle is by optimizing the absorption of amino acids, promoting stimula