Author Identifier (ORCID)
Trent Bozanich: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9967-5785
Jack Dalla Via: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1815-0838
Simone Radavelli-Bagatini: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6821-5217
Cassandra Smith: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2517-2824
Jonathan M. Hodgson: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6184-7764
Marc Sim: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5166-0605
Abstract
We investigated the cross-sectional association between total, animal and plant protein intake with the presence of a multidimensional measure of frailty in older women. Participants included 1380 community-dwelling Australian women, mean (SD) age 75.1 (2.7) years. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to determine total, plant, and animal protein intake. Frailty was assessed using a frailty index across numerous health domains (scored 0–1, ≥0.25 indicating frailty). Cross-sectional associations were analysed using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models. In total, 275 (19.9%) women were identified as frail. A non-linear inverse association was observed between higher intakes of total protein and the odds for frailty. Compared to lowest protein intakes (Quartile [Q]1, 0.77 g/kg BW/d), greater intakes (up to 1.66 g/kg BW/d, Q4; OR 0.51 95%CI 0.31–0.82) were associated with lower odds for frailty. Higher plant (∼0.60 g/kg BW/d [Q4 vs Q1: OR 0.35 95%CI 0.22–0.57]) and animal (up to ∼0.80 g/kg BW/d; [Q3 vs Q1: OR 0.72 95%CI 0.53–0.97] protein intakes, were associated with lower odds for frailty. Older women consuming higher total protein, including a combination of animal and plant sources, were less likely to be frail, with intakes of ∼1.1–1.6 g/kg likely to be most beneficial.
Keywords
Frailty index, nutrition, physical frailty, protein source, women’s health
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
1-1-2026
Publication Title
International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
School
Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute / School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
94258
Funders
Healthway / Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation / National Health and Medical Research Council / Department of Health, Western Australia / Royal Perth Hospital Career Advancement Fellowship (CAF 130/2020) / Western Australian Future Health and Innovation Fund / Heart Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (107194) from the National Heart Foundation of Australia
Grant Number
NHMRC Numbers : 254627, 303169, 572604
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Bozanich, T., Via, J. D., Radavelli-Bagatini, S., Smith, C., Dent, E., Villani, A., Daly, R. M., Tieland, M., Hodgson, J. M., Zhu, K., Prince, R. L., & Sim, M. (2026). Association between protein intake from animal and plant sources and the presence of frailty in community-dwelling Australian women. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637486.2026.2644869