Association between dietary lysine intake and lean body mass among young Indian women

Abstract Background: Lysine is deficient in cereal based traditional Indian diets. Inadequate lysine intakes by Indian population may influence their lean body mass, thereby posing a risk to metabolic diseases and poor fitness. This study investigated associations between intakes of protein and lysine and its existing association with lean mass among Indian women. Methods: The study was carried out among 473 women. Dietary intake of protein and lysine was estimated via 24h recall. Lean body mass based on body composition analysis was assessed. Associations between intakes of protein and lysine with fat mass index, muscle mass index and fat free mass index were analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficients. Results: Among women positive and significant associations were found between intake of lysine and muscle mass index(r=0.221) and fat free mass index(r= 0.371). An inverse association was found between fat mass index and lysine intake(r= - 0.278). Furthermore, the dietary adequacy for protein and lysine was only 71.88 and 39.41% against the recommended levels. Conclusions: Diets of the studied population was lacking in lysine. Among women, higher lysine intakes may decrease body fat gain and increase lean body mass suggesting better physical fitness and decreased risk of metabolic diseases.