Protein deficiency, sarcopenia and cardiometabolic risk in an older urban black South African population: A cross-sectional feasibility study

South Africa (SA) is a low-middle income country (LMIC) with an ageing population and increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCD). Many LMIC with increased urbanisation and a shift to a western diet has seen an increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCD). Sarcopenia (decreased muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance) is a major contributor to the ageing process, affecting both metabolic health and the ability to perform activities of daily living. Little is known on the nutritional patterns or the associations between nutritional intake and sarcopenia in older black South Africans. This cross-sectional study examines the feasibility of collecting nutrition data from older black South Africans and determines how nutrition patterns, in particular protein intake, in this population relate to sarcopenia. In addition, it investigates how the older black SA population procure food, how much can they afford to spend on food for themselves, and how much of their food budget is devoted to protein-rich foods. This knowledge will inform a future larger intervention study in older urban black South Africans and will provide individuals, communities and policy makers with reliable data for nutrition advice in ageing black populations in LMICs.