Effects of Protein Supplementation Associated with Resistance Training on Body Composition and Muscle Strength in Older Adults: A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews with Meta-analyses
Abstract
Background There are some controversial findings regarding the benefits of combining protein supplementation with resistance training in order to optimize adaptations to training in older adults.Objective The aim of this review was to summarize the evidence from meta-analyses assessing the effects of protein supplementation combined with resistance training on body composition and muscle strength in the older population.Methods We included systematic reviews with meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials that examined the effects of protein and/or amino acid supplementation associated with resistance training compared with resistance training alone on lean body mass, muscle mass, and muscle strength in older people. The search was performed using the MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Google Scholar, and OpenGrey databases. Methodological quality was assessed using the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 checklist, and the quality of evidence was determined using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. The pooled effect estimates were computed from the standardized mean difference and the 95% confidence interval achieved by each meta-analysis, using random effects models.Results Five reviews were included, all of moderate methodological quality. In the analyses, protein supplementation combined with resistance training was associated with greater increases in lean body mass and muscle mass when compared with resistance training alone. However, no differences were observed between the interventions on muscle strength increases. The quality of evidence ranged from moderate to very low.Conclusion Protein supplementation associated with resistance training induces greater increases in lean body mass compared with resistance training alone. In addition, it is suggested that the use of protein supplementation enhances gains in muscle mass but does not promote greater increases in muscle strength.
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Combining protein supplementation with resistance training exercise may further induce increases in lean body mass compared with resistance training alone in older adults.
“Combining protein supplementation with resistance training exercise may further induce increases in lean body mass compared with resistance training alone in older adults.83”
From Changes in lean body mass with <scp>glucagon‐like peptide</scp> ‐1‐based therapies and mitigation strategies (2024) · cites this paper as [83]
Combining resistance exercise training with protein supplementation may promote lean body mass gain and increase muscle strength compared with resistance training alone in older adults and may be more effective than protein supplementation alone.
“In addition, combining resistance exercise training with protein supplementation may promote LBM gain and increase muscle strength compared with resistance training alone in older adults [85] and may be more effective than protein supplementation alone in this respect [86].”
From Application of nutrition interventions with GLP-1 based therapies: A narrative review of the challenges and solutions (2025) · cites this paper as [85]
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- Authors
- Vieira, A. F., Santos, J. S., Costa, R. R., Cadore, E. L., & Macedo, R. C. O.
- Affiliations
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (BR)
- Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul (BR)
- Corresponding author
- Vieira, Alexandra Ferreira
- ORCID
- Venue
- Sports Medicine
- Published
- 2022-06-11
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 2511-2522
- ISSN
- 0112-1642 (ISSN-L)
- 1179-2035
- OpenAlex
- W4282925396
- Cited by
- 25
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 5 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 0.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Sports Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Keywords
- protein supplementation, resistance training, older adults, body composition, muscle strength, lean body mass, muscle mass, amino acid supplementation, sarcopenia
- MeSH terms
- Systematic Reviews as Topic, Aged, Body Composition, Humans, Muscle, Skeletal, Dietary Supplements, Muscle Strength, Resistance Training
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