Older adults gain muscle power after daily peanut butter servings, study finds

A six-month trial of 120 adults aged 65 and older found those who ate about three tablespoons of natural peanut butter daily improved their five-times sit-to-stand test by roughly 1.2 seconds versus a control group. The study found no change in walking speed or overall strength and did not measure actual fall rates.

A new randomized trial examined whether a daily serving of peanut butter affects muscle function in older adults. Researchers at Deakin University followed 120 adults aged 65 and older who lived alone and were identified as being at risk of falls. Participants in the intervention group consumed about three tablespoons (43 grams) of natural peanut butter each day for six months. The trial was published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle. Key findings: - Participants who consumed peanut butter improved their five-times sit-to-stand test by about 1.23 seconds compared with the control group. - The study did not find improvements in walking speed or overall measured strength. - Those in the peanut butter group increased protein and healthy fat intake without gaining weight over the six months. - The trial included older adults living alone and at risk of falls and enrolled 120 participants in total. - The study was funded by The Peanut Institute; the lead researcher stated the sponsor was not involved in study design, analysis, or publication decisions. Summary: The measured change was modest and relates to lower-body muscle power needed for tasks such as rising from a chair. Undetermined at this time whether the observed improvement would translate into fewer falls or other clinical outcomes, and the researchers said further studies are needed.