Cited by 270Nutrition and Health in AgingMuscle metabolism and nutritionMuscle Physiology and Disorders

Nutritional interventions to improve muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in older people: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

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Gielen, Evelien, Beckwée, David, Delaere, Andreas, De Breucker, Sandra, Vandewoude, Maurits, Bautmans, Ivan, the Sarcopenia Guidelines Development Group of the Belgian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (BSGG), Bautmans, I +12 more·2021·Nutrition Reviews

Abstract

Context: Sarcopenia is a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes such as falls, disability, and death. The Belgian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics has developed evidence-based guidelines for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. This umbrella review presents the results of the Working Group on Nutritional Interventions. Objective: The aim of this umbrella review was to provide an evidence-based overview of nutritional interventions targeting sarcopenia or at least 1 of the 3 sarcopenia criteria (ie, muscle mass, muscle strength, or physical performance) in persons aged ≥ 65 years. Data sources: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, the PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for systematic reviews and meta-analyses reporting the effect of nutritional supplementation on sarcopenia or muscle mass, strength, or physical performance. Data extraction: Two authors extracted data on the key characteristics of the reviews, including participants, treatment, and outcomes. Methodological quality of the reviews was assessed using the product A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews. Three authors synthesized the extracted data and generated recommendations on the basis of an overall synthesis of the effects of each intervention. Quality of evidence was rated with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Data analysis: A total of 15 systematic reviews were included. The following supplements were examined: proteins, essential amino acids, leucine, β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate, creatine, and multinutrient supplementation (with or without physical exercise). Because of both the low amount and the low to moderate quality of the reviews, the level of evidence supporting most recommendations was low to moderate. Conclusions: Best evidence is available to recommend leucine, because it has a significant effect on muscle mass in elderly people with sarcopenia. Protein supplementation on top of resistance training is recommended to increase muscle mass and strength, in particular for obese persons and for ≥ 24 weeks. Effects on sarcopenia as a construct were not reported in the included reviews.

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  • The methodological quality of each included review was assessed independently by two reviewers using the AMSTAR tool.

    “The methodological quality of each included review was assessed independently by two reviewers using the AMSTAR (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews) tool, which yields a score ranging from 1 to 11 that incorporates assessment of publication bias (Supplemental Appendix 4, Supplemental Digital Content, https://links.lww.com/MSS/D323) (18,19).”

    From American College of Sports Medicine Position Stand. Resistance Training Prescription for Muscle Function, Hypertrophy, and Physical Performance in Healthy Adults: An Overview of Reviews (2026) · cites this paper as [18]

    The Data extraction and methodological quality assessment section says two authors assessed the included systematic reviews using the 11-item AMSTAR tool. It does not say they performed those assessments independently. The same section gives a possible score of 0–11, rather than the citing sentence’s 1–11; no page number is available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Authors
Gielen, E., Beckwée, D., Delaere, A., De Breucker, S., Vandewoude, M., Bautmans, I., the Sarcopenia Guidelines Development Group of the Belgian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (BSGG), Bautmans, I., Beaudart, C., Beckwée, D., Beyer, I., Bruyère, O., De Breucker, S., De Cock, A.-M., Delaere, A., de Saint-Hubert, M., De Spiegeleer, A., Gielen, E., Perkisas, S., & Vandewoude, M.
Affiliations
  • Department of Geriatrics, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
  • Rehabilitation Sciences Research Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
  • Frailty in Ageing Research Department,  Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
  • Department of Geriatrics, Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
  • University of Antwerp (BE)
  • Frailty in Ageing Research Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
  • Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE)
  • Erasmus Hospital (BE)
Venue
Nutrition Reviews
Published
2021-01-07
Volume
79
Issue
2
Pages
121-147
ISSN
  • 0029-6643 (ISSN-L)
  • 1753-4887
OpenAlex
W3030753538
Cited by
269
References
62
Citations by year
2026: 32 · 2025: 60 · 2024: 47 · 2023: 52 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 8 · 2012: 1
FWCI
4.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nutrition Reviews (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Dépôt institutionnel de l'Université libre de Bruxelles (Université Libre de Bruxelles) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Lirias (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion)
  • Digital Access to Libraries (Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), l'Université de Namur (UNamur) and the Université Saint-Louis (USL-B)) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • ORBi (University of Liège) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • VUBIR (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
Keywords
sarcopenia, dietary intervention, older adults, muscle mass, muscle strength, physical performance, protein supplementation, leucine, essential amino acids, creatine, beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, resistance training, obesity
MeSH terms
Physical Functional Performance, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Amino Acids, Essential, Creatine, Humans, Leucine, Valerates, Exercise, Muscle, Skeletal, Dietary Supplements, Muscle Strength, Sarcopenia

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