The summit's attendees report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that eating a higher protein diet -- still within the recommended range, but toward the top of it -- may play a role in optimal health. Higher protein diets are linked with a lower risk for many health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis as well as sarcopenia -- the degenerative loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength.

The current U.S. recommendation according to the Institute of Medicine is that adults should consume between 10 percent to 35 percent of their calories from protein. The summit participants said that many adults, such as those who are overweight or obese and older Americans may benefit from eating up to 35 percent of their calories from protein.

The summit's conclusions complement examination of evidence by the International Dietary Energy Consultancy Group, World Health Organization/Food and Agricultural Organization and Dietary Reference Intakes panel.

Most Americans are consuming protein in the lower end of this range -- about 13 percent to 16 percent of protein.