Protein Supplementation Does Not Significantly Augment the Effects of Resistance Exercise Training in Older Adults: A Systematic Review.
Physical activity and nutritional supplementation interventions may be used to ameliorate age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function. Previous reviews have demonstrated the beneficial effects of resistance exercise training (RET) combined with protein or essential amino acids (EAA) in younger populations. Whether or not older adults also benefit is unclear. The aim of this review was to determine whether regular dietary supplementation with protein/EAA during a RET regimen augments the effects of RET on skeletal muscle in older adults.



A literature search was conducted in August 2015 using MEDLINE, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, and CINAHL Plus to identify all controlled trials using a RET regimen with and without protein/EAA supplementation. Outcome variables included muscle strength, muscle size, functional ability, and body composition.



Fifteen studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria, including 917 participants with a mean age of 77.4 years. Studies involving both healthy participants and those described as frail or sarcopenic were included. Overall, results indicated that protein supplementation did not significantly augment the effects of RET on any of the specified outcomes. Exceptions included some measures of muscle strength (3 studies) and body composition (2 studies). Meta-analyses were conducted but were limited because of methodologic differences between studies, and results were inconclusive.



Systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials reveal that protein/EAA supplementation does not significantly augment the effects of progressive RET in older adults.
MRC-ARUK Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research and School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. Electronic address: dxt353@bham.ac.uk.
Danielle K
DK
Thomas
School of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Marcus A
MA
Quinn
Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
David H
DH
Saunders
MRC-ARUK Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research and School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Carolyn A
CA
Greig
D000368:Aged; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D055070:Resistance Training
D004044:Dietary Proteins
Elderly; muscle strength; protein; resistance exercise training; sarcopenia
Br Med Bull. 2010;95:139-59
20200012
Sports Med. 2015 Feb;45(2):245-55
25355074
J Am Diet Assoc. 2002 Nov;102(11):1621-30
12449285
J Am Geriatr Soc. 2002 May;50(5):889-96
12028177
J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004 Jan;52(1):80-5
14687319
Am J Prev Med. 2003 Oct;25(3):226-31
14507529
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2013 Mar;45(3):542-52
22968306
Acta Physiol (Oxf). 2011 Mar;201(3):365-72
20874802
Nutr Metab (Lond). 2012 Jun 14;9(1):57
22698458
Physiol Rep. 2014 Aug 07;2(8):null
25107987
Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2015 Feb;40(2):199-202
25610954
Exp Gerontol. 2015 May;65:16-22
25747997
Age Ageing. 2013 Mar;42(2):203-9
23321202
BMC Public Health. 2009 Jan 28;9:39
19175935
Am J Physiol. 1995 Jun;268(6 Pt 1):E1143-53
7611390
J Am Geriatr Soc. 2012 Jan;60(1):16-23
22142410
FASEB J. 2005 Mar;19(3):422-4
15596483
J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2013 Aug;14(8):542-59
23867520
J Am Geriatr Soc. 1986 Feb;34(2):119-26
3944402
J Gerontol. 1994 Mar;49(2):M85-94
8126356
Eur J Nutr. 2012 Mar;51(2):173-9
21562887
Am J Physiol. 1997 Jul;273(1 Pt 1):E122-9
9252488
Am J Epidemiol. 1998 Apr 15;147(8):755-63
9554417
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002 Jul;34(7):1126-31
12131252
Ann Intern Med. 2009 Aug 18;151(4):264-9, W64
19622511
Clin Interv Aging. 2015 Apr 13;10:713-23
25926725
N Engl J Med. 1994 Jun 23;330(25):1769-75
8190152
Ageing Res Rev. 2010 Jul;9(3):226-37
20385254
J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2012 Oct;13(8):713-9
22770932
Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Feb;89(2):608-16
19106243
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2013 Aug;67(8):821-6
23486511
Br J Nutr. 2012 Nov 28;108(10):1780-8
22313809
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1997 Sep;52(5):B267-76
9310077
Aust J Physiother. 2006;52(2):105-13
16764547
J Nutr Health Aging. 2004;8(2):68-75
14978601
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 1997 Dec 29;352(1363):1837-43
9460068
J Nutr Health Aging. 2011 Aug;15(7):554-60
21808934
Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Dec;96(6):1454-64
23134885
J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2011 May;12(4):249-56
21527165
J Nutr Health Aging. 2009 Feb;13(2):108-14
19214338
J Physiol. 2009 Jan 15;587(1):211-7
19001042
Br J Nutr. 2006 Nov;96(5):895-901
17092379
Exp Gerontol. 2011 Nov;46(11):884-90
21821111
J Nutr. 1997 May;127(5 Suppl):990S-991S
9164280
Am J Clin Nutr. 2014 Apr;99(4):899-910
24477043
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2013 Jun;68(6):682-90
23114462
Exp Gerontol. 2006 Aug;41(8):746-52
16797903