PhD candidate
University of Toronto, Canada
Alyssa Paoletti is a Ph.D candidate at the University of Toronto in the Department of Nutritional Sciences. She obtained a B.Sc. and M.Sc. from the University of Toronto. Her research in Dr. Glenda Courtney-Martin's lab, focuses on determining the protein and sulphur amino acid requirements of healthy older adults (>60 years).
The Minimum Methionine Requirement of Adults >60 Years is the Same as Young Adults:
The world is amid a demographic shift with an increase in the number of people over 60 years. Aging is associated with loss of muscle mass, increased oxidative stress, decreased immunity and changes in protein/amino acid metabolism. This suggests that older adults have different amino acid requirements than young adults. However, current amino acid requirements are based on young adult data. There is also a global change to plant based proteins which are limiting in amino acids including the sulphur amino acid; methionine. The sulphur amino acids are methionine and cysteine. In order to understand how plant proteins can satisfy the elderly sulphur amino acid needs, they must first be determined in this population. This poster presentation focuses on our group's recent estimate of the minimum methionine requirement in healthy older adults. Our results will help to assess diet quality for older adults and how to best meet their needs on a plant-based diet.