Nutritional Advice El Mondo
Objectives:
While there is growing research interest in the effects of nutrition and exercise on delaying sarcopenia, the results are inconclusive and there is scarce information on regional patterns. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.
Do protein supplements combined with exercise improve extremity strength in healthy older adults with sarcopenia?
Study design:
This review article included 14 RCTs, involving a total of 888 healthy older adults (>60 years).
4 studies in Asian countries provided data on lower-extremity strength, involving 280 participants (138 in protein supplements + exercise group and 142 in exercise group).
Lower-extremity strength was assessed using knee extension (n = 3) or leg extension (n = 1).
The intervention period of all studies was 12 weeks.
The dosage of protein ranged from 3 g/d to 40 g/d.
Results and conclusions:
The investigators found in 4 studies in Asian countries a significant increase in the lower-extremity strength in the protein supplementation + exercise group compared to the exercise group, with a SMD of 0.24 [95% CI = 0.00 to 0.47, p = 0.048, I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.513].
The investigators concluded that protein supplements (3 g/d to 40 g/d during 12 weeks) combined with exercise (knee extension and leg extension) exerts superior benefit on lower-extremity strength in healthy older adults with sarcopenia in Asian countries, when compared to exercise alone or with a placebo. However, no additional benefits from protein supplementation are observed on upper-extremity strength, muscle mass and physical performance regardless of the regions. More well-designed RCTs with information on baseline and total protein intake for longer follow-up periods are warranted to evaluate the effectiveness of protein supplementation and exercise on the prevention and management of sarcopenia in healthy older adults.
Original title:
Effects of protein supplementation and exercise on delaying sarcopenia in healthy older individuals in Asian and non-Asian countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis by Li L, He Y, […], Liu X.
Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8808080/
Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on protein and elderly right here.
Upper extremity is part of the body that includes the arm, wrist and hand.
Lower extremity refers to the part of the body from the hip to the toes.
Sarcopenia is a type of muscle loss (muscle atrophy) that occurs with aging and/or immobility. Sarcopenia can affect people in their 30s and beyond.