Milk intake across adulthood and muscle strength decline from mid- to late life: the MRC National Survey of Health and Development

Milk is a source of several nutrients which may be beneficial for skeletal muscle. Evidence that links lower milk intake with declines in muscle strength from midlife to old age is lacking. We used data from the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development to test sex-specific associations between milk consumption from age 36 to 60-64 years, low grip strength (GS) or probable sarcopenia, and GS decline from age 53 to 69 years. We included 1340 men and 1383 women with at least one measure of both milk intake and GS. Milk intake was recorded in 5-d food diaries (aged 36, 43, 53 and 60-64 years), and grand mean of total, reduced-fat and full-fat milk each categorised in thirds (T1 (lowest) to T3 (highest), g/d). GS was assessed at ages 53, 60-64, and 69 years, and probable sarcopenia classified at the age of 69 years. We employed logistic regression to examine the odds of probable sarcopenia and multilevel models to investigate decline in GS in relation to milk intake thirds. Compared with T1, only T2 (58 center dot 76-145 center dot 25 g/d) of reduced-fat milk was associated with lower odds of sex-specific low GS at the age of 69 years (OR (95 % CI): 0 center dot 59 (0 center dot 37, 0 center dot 94), P = 0 center dot 03). In multilevel models, only T3 of total milk (>= 237 center dot 52 g/d) was associated with stronger GS in midlife in men (beta (95 % CI) = 1 center dot 82 (0 center dot 18, 3 center dot 45) kg, P = 0 center dot 03) compared with T1 (<= 152 center dot 0 g/d), but not with GS decline over time. A higher milk intake across adulthood may promote muscle strength in midlife in men. Its role in muscle health in late life needs further examination.

Automated summary

Milk is a potential source of nutrients that may benefit skeletal muscle health. However, there is currently a lack of evidence linking milk intake with declines in muscle strength. More research is needed to explore the relationship between milk consumption and muscle health.