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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2017;21(10):1160-1169.
doi: 10.1007/s12603-016-0856-1.

Intake of a Protein-Enriched Milk and Effects on Muscle Mass and Strength. A 12-Week Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

I Ottestad  1 , A T Løvstad, G O Gjevestad, H Hamarsland, J Šaltytė Benth, L F Andersen, A Bye, A S Biong, K Retterstøl, P O Iversen, T Raastad, S M Ulven, K B Holven
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Free article
Randomized Controlled Trial

Intake of a Protein-Enriched Milk and Effects on Muscle Mass and Strength. A 12-Week Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

I Ottestad et al. J Nutr Health Aging. 2017.
Free article

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the effect of 20 g protein with breakfast and evening meal on muscle mass, muscle strength and functional performance in older adults.

Design: A double-blinded randomized controlled study.

Setting: Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Norway.

Participants: Healthy community-dwelling men and women (≥ 70 years) with reduced physical strength and/or performance.

Intervention: Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either protein-enriched milk (2 x 0.4 L/d; protein group) or an isocaloric carbohydrate drink (2 x 0.4 L/d; control group) with breakfast and evening meal for 12 weeks.

Measurements: The primary endpoints were muscle mass measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry, and tests of muscle strength (one repetition maximum test of chest press and leg press) and functional performance (handgrip strength, stair calimb and repeated chair rise).

Results: In total, 438 subjects were screened, 50 subjects were randomized and 36 completed the study. Chest press improved significantly in the protein (1.3 kg (0.1-2.5), p=0.03) and the control group (1.5 kg (0.0-3.0), p=0.048), but with no difference between the groups (p=0.85). No significant change in leg press (p=0.93) or muscle mass (p=0.54) were observed between the protein and the control group. Nor did we observe any significant differences in the functional performance tests (p>0.05 for all tests) between the groups.

Conclusion: Increased protein intake (2 x 20 g/d) did not significantly improve muscle mass, muscle strength or functional performance in healthy older weight stable adults. Whether intake of > 20 g protein to each meal is necessary for preservation of muscle mass and strength in older adults should be further investigated in a larger study. This underscores the need for well-designed studies that can differentiate between the effect of protein intake and increased energy. This trial was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (ID no. NCT02218333).

Keywords: Protein; milk; muscle mass; muscle strength; older adults.

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Conflict of interest statement

I Ottestad, A T Løvstad, H Hamarsland, J Šaltytė Benth, L F Andersen, A Bye, P O Iversen and T Raastad have no conflicts of interest. K. Retterstøl reports grants from Oslo Economics, personal fees from Amgen, Mills DA, Sanofi, The Norwegian Medical Association, and The Norwegian Directorate for Health; none of which are related to the contents of this manuscript. S M Ulven has received research grants from Mills DA and Olympic Seafood; none of which are related to the content of this manuscript. K B Holven reports grants from Mills DA, TINE DA, Olympic Seafood, Sanofi, Pronova and personal fees from Amgen; none of which are related to the contents of this manuscript. The protein-enriched milk and the isocaloric carbohydrate drink were provided by TINE SA, Oslo, Norway, where G O Gjevestad and A S Biong are researchers employed. They have no financial interest to declare.

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