Selected publications

Large language models miss protein quality in vegan meals

Grootswagers P, Camps G

Finds that large language models systematically misjudge the protein quality of vegan meals.

Higher plasma serine levels are associated with favorable values of metabolic health markers among middle-aged and older adults in The Maastricht Study

Olsen T, Elshorbagy A, Tore EC, Bastani NE, Stolt E, Blokland GAM, Stehouwer CDA, Kooi ME, Jansen JFA, Eussen SJPM, et al.

GeroScience, 2026

Higher plasma serine is linked to more favourable metabolic health markers in middle-aged and older adults.

High-Intensity Resistance Training Enhances Strength, But Not Muscle Mass and Physical Functioning Gains During Total Knee Arthroplasty Rehabilitation

Monsegue AP, Wilms EJC, Kramer CS, Morwani-Magnani J, van der Haijden M, Singh-Povel CM, Grootswagers P, de Groot L, Slagboom PE, van Loon LJC, Verdijk LB

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2026

High-intensity resistance training during knee-replacement rehabilitation improved strength, but not muscle mass or physical functioning.

Protein Adequacy across Meals in Dutch Elite and Sub-Elite Athletes

Ricco A, Grootswagers P, Mensink M, Wardenaar F

Assesses how well Dutch elite and sub-elite athletes meet protein needs across individual meals.

The association between the MIND-NL diet, Dutch dietary guidelines, and global cognitive function in an older population at risk for cognitive decline

Beers S, de van der Schueren MAE, Grootswagers P, van de Rest O, Waterink L, Sikkes SAM, Deckers K, Soons LM, Claassen JAHR, Smidt N, et al.

The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, 2025

Examines how a MIND-style diet relates to cognitive function in older adults at risk of decline.

The amino acid composition of commercially available vegan meat and dairy analogues

Domic J, van Loon LJC, Siebelink E, Borgonjen-Van den Berg KJ, de Groot LCPGM, Grootswagers P

British Journal of Nutrition, 2025

Maps the amino acid profiles of supermarket vegan meat and dairy analogues.

Phase angle is related to physical function in high-risk Dutch older adults: implications for sarcopenia screening

Grootswagers P, Ricco A, Hulshof P, de Groot L

The Journal of Frailty & Aging, 2025

Links bioimpedance phase angle to physical function, with implications for sarcopenia screening.

Artificial intelligence in nutrition and ageing research: a primer on the benefits

Grootswagers P, Grootswagers T

Maturitas, 2025

A primer on how artificial intelligence can accelerate nutrition and ageing research.

A Well-Balanced Vegan Diet Does not Compromise Daily Mixed Muscle Protein Synthesis Rates when Compared with an Omnivorous Diet in Active Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Cross-Over Trial

Domic J, Pinckaers PJM, Grootswagers P, Siebelink E, Gerdessen JC, van Loon LJC, de Groot LCPGM

The Journal of Nutrition, 2025

A well-balanced vegan diet can maintain daily muscle protein synthesis in active older adults.

Perspective: Biomarkers of Aging in Human Nutrition Research, a focus on applications, challenges and opportunities

Loughlin KNM, Grootswagers P, Camps G, de Groot LCPGM

Advances in Nutrition, 2025

How biomarkers of ageing can be used in human nutrition research, with opportunities and methodological challenges.

The effect of a vegan diet with or without resistance exercise on thigh muscle volume in older adults: research protocol of the Vold-study, a 12-week randomized controlled trial

Domic J, Grootswagers P, Pinckaers PJM, Groenendijk I, Rubert J, van Loon LJC, de Groot LCPGM

BMC Geriatrics, 2025

Study protocol for a trial on vegan diet and resistance exercise for thigh muscle volume.

Web-based exercise and nutrition intervention to improve leg muscle strength and physical functioning in older adults: pre-post pilot study

Dorhout BG, Wezenbeek N, de Groot LCPGM, Grootswagers P

JMIR Formative Research, 2025

Pilots a web-based exercise and nutrition programme for leg strength and physical functioning.

Diet, lifestyle and telomere length: using Copula Graphical Models on NHANES data

Tedaldi AM, Behrouzi P, Grootswagers P

Aging (Albany NY), 2025

Applies copula graphical models to relate diet and lifestyle to telomere length.

Developing a Digital Tool to Calculate Protein Quality in Plant-Based Meals of Older Adults: User Engagement Design Approach With End Users

van Dam L, Hojlund Christensen S, Tetens I, Riley III W, Timmer M, Suciu Jr G, Marin I, de Groot L, Grootswagers P

Journal of Participatory Medicine, 2024

A user-centred design study behind a digital tool for meal protein quality (the Alpha-Tool).

Design of the VOILA-intervention study: a 12-week nutrition and resistance exercise intervention in metabolically or mobility compromised Dutch older adults

Kramer CS, Monsegue A, Morwani-Mangnani J, Grootswagers P, Beekman M, Slagboom PE, Verdijk LB, de Groot LCPGM

Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, 2024

Design of a nutrition and resistance-exercise trial measuring immune-metabolic, gut and muscle outcomes.

A vegan dietary pattern is associated with high prevalence of inadequate protein intake in older adults: a simulation study

Borkent JW, Grootswagers P, Linschooten J, Roodenburg AJC, Ocke M, de van der Schueren MAE

The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, 2024

Simulation showing many older adults on a vegan pattern fall short of protein needs.

Meal Protein Quality Score: A Novel Tool to Evaluate Protein Quantity and Quality of Meals

Grootswagers P, Hojlund Christensen S, Timmer M, Riley W, de Groot L, Tetens I

Current Developments in Nutrition, 2024

Introduces the Meal Protein Quality Score (MPQS) to evaluate protein quantity and quality at meal level.

Discovering the direct relations between nutrients and epigenetic ageing

Grootswagers P, Bach D, Biemans Y, Behrouzi P, Horvath S, Kramer CS, Liu S, Manson JE, Shadyab AH, Stewart JD, et al.

The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, 2024

Data-driven methods to explore direct relations between nutrients and epigenetic ageing.

Identifying the relation between food groups and biological ageing: a data-driven approach

Biemans Y, Bach D, Behrouzi P, Horvath S, Kramer CS, Liu S, Manson JE, Shadyab AH, Stewart J, Whitsel EA, et al.

Age and Ageing, 2024

Uses a data-driven approach to link food groups to biological ageing.

Discussion on protein recommendations for supporting muscle and bone health in older adults: a mini review

Groenendijk I, de Groot LCPGM, Tetens I, Grootswagers P

Frontiers in Nutrition, 2024

Reviews protein recommendations for muscle and bone health in older adults.

Diets in Dutch hospitals: setting the scene for healthy, protein adequate, and sustainable menus

Bannenberg C, Geleijnse JM, Grootswagers P, Lensink M, van der Schouw YT, Kok A, Dermody BJ, Bolat E, Pot GK, de Koning I, et al.

Report, Wageningen University & Research, 2024

Assesses Dutch hospital menus against healthy, protein-adequate and sustainable criteria.

The associations of habitual intake of sulfur amino acids, proteins and diet quality with plasma sulfur amino acid concentrations: The Maastricht Study

Tore EC, Eussen SJPM, Bastani NE, Dagnelie PC, Elshorbagy AK, Grootswagers P, Kozich V, Olsen T, Refsum H, Retterstol K, et al.

The Journal of Nutrition, 2023

Relates dietary sulfur amino acids and diet quality to plasma concentrations.

Protein intake and bone mineral density: cross-sectional relationship and longitudinal effects in older adults

Groenendijk I, Grootswagers P, Santoro A, Franceschi C, Bazzocchi A, Meunier N, Caille A, Malpuech-Brugere C, Bialecka-Debek A, Pietruszka B, et al.

Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 2023

Examines how protein intake relates to bone mineral density in older adults.

Perspective: vegan diets for older adults? A perspective on the potential impact on muscle mass and strength

Domic J, Grootswagers P, van Loon LJC, de Groot LCPGM

Advances in Nutrition, 2022

A perspective on how vegan diets may affect muscle mass and strength in older adults.

Relative validity and reliability of isometric lower extremity strength assessment in older adults using a handheld dynamometer

Grootswagers P, Vaes AMM, Hangelbroek R, Tieland M, van Loon LJC, de Groot LCPGM

Sports Health, 2022

Validates handheld dynamometry for measuring lower-limb strength in older adults.

Vitamin B-6 intake is related to physical performance in European older adults: results of the NU-AGE study

Grootswagers P, Mensink M, Berendsen AAM, Deen CPJ, Kema IP, Bakker SJL, Santoro A, Franceschi C, Meunier N, Malpuech-Brugere C, et al.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2021

Links vitamin B-6 intake to physical performance in European older adults.

A novel oral nutritional supplement improves gait speed and mitochondrial functioning compared to standard care in older adults with (or at risk of) undernutrition: a randomized controlled trial

Grootswagers P, Smeets E, Oteng AB, de Groot L

Aging (Albany NY), 2021

A trial showing an oral nutritional supplement improved gait speed and mitochondrial function.

Nutritional concerns later in life

Grootswagers P, de Groot LCPGM

Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2021

Reviews the key nutritional concerns that emerge in later life.

Nutrition and exercise to maintain physical functioning during ageing

Grootswagers P, Mensink M, de Groot L

Book chapter, Nutrition, Food and Diet in Ageing and Longevity (Springer), 2021

A book chapter on combining nutrition and exercise to preserve physical function with age.

Dietary intakes of vegetable protein, folate, and vitamins B-6 and B-12 are partially correlated with physical functioning of Dutch older adults using copula graphical models

Behrouzi P, Grootswagers P, Keizer PLC, Smeets ETHC, Feskens EJM, de Groot LCPGM, van Eeuwijk FA

The Journal of Nutrition, 2020

Uses copula graphical models to link plant protein and B-vitamins to physical functioning.

A 4-week exercise and protein program improves muscle mass and physical functioning in older adults: a pilot study

Grootswagers P, de Regt M, Domic J, Dronkers J, Visser M, Witteman B, Hopman M, Mensink M

Experimental Gerontology, 2020

A pilot showing a short exercise and protein programme improved muscle mass and function.