Re-examining protein requirements through the lens of muscle, metabolism, and aging.
Protein remains one of the most misunderstood macronutrients in medicine and public health. Despite decades of research on muscle physiology, aging, and metabolic health, protein recommendations for the general population continue to rely on outdated assumptions rather than modern clinical data.
Much of the confusion stems from a failure to distinguish between minimum requirements to prevent deficiency and optimal intake to support muscle, metabolism, and healthy aging. These are not the same physiological targets.
The Problem With the Current RDA
The current Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein (0.8 g/kg/day) was established to prevent overt deficiency, not to optimize health outcomes.
