Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of the protein intake on the patients' handgrip strength and the incidence of hypertension in the middle aged and elderly people.Methods Totally 134 middle aged and elderly villagers in Zhangfang village, Fangshan district, Beijing were selected randomly. According to the intake of protein, the villagers were separated into two groups, relatively high protein(RHP) group and relatively low protein(RLP) group. The diet intake was investigated using 24-hour dietary review method. Then the nutrients and energy intake were calculated. We measured the handgrip, the blood pressure and blood glucose using grip dynamometer, electronic sphygmomanometer and glucometer, respectively. We measured the parameters of anthropometry. Then we surveyed the daily life habit, such as sleeping and exercise. Then we used Student's t test and χ² test to analyze the difference of indexes between two groups.Results The handgrip strength and arm muscle circumference were higher in RHP group than those in RLP group.The staple food, vegetable and fruit, fish and meat, egg, bean curd and oil were higher in RHP group than those in RLP group. The carbohydrate, fat, dietary fiber and energy were higher in RHP group than those in RLP group. The morbidity of hypertension was lower in RHP group than that in RLP group.Conclusion The dietary pattern in the villagers surveyed was imbalance. The low protein intake may be related to the low handgrip strength and the high morbidity of hypertension. To some extent, increasing the protein intake is likely to enhance the handgrip strength and reduce the morbidity of hypertension.

Key words: handgrip strength, protein intake, dietary pattern, arm muscle circumference, hypertension