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Meta-Analysis
. 2020 Aug 27;12(9):2607.
doi: 10.3390/nu12092607.

Effectiveness of Protein Supplementation Combined with Resistance Training on Muscle Strength and Physical Performance in Elderly: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Noé Labata-Lezaun  1 , Luis Llurda-Almuzara  1 , Carlos López-de-Celis  2 , Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz  1 , Vanessa González-Rueda  2 , César Hidalgo-García  3 , Borja Muniz-Pardos  4 , Albert Pérez-Bellmunt  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Effectiveness of Protein Supplementation Combined with Resistance Training on Muscle Strength and Physical Performance in Elderly: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Noé Labata-Lezaun et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the combination of resistance training (RT) and protein supplementation (PS), compared to RT alone or combined with a placebo (plS), in the improvement of muscle strength and physical performance. The search strategy in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Sciences databases found a total of 294 studies. Once inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, 16 studies were included for the qualitative analysis. A total of 657 healthy elderly (>60 years) participants were analysed. Finally, 15 articles were included in the quantitative analysis with one being excluded due to issues with data availability. Upper-limb, lower-limb, and handgrip strength were the primary outcomes of the meta-analysis. The secondary outcomes, related to physical performance, were Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), gait speed, and the five-chair-rise test (5CRT). The main results of the meta-analysis show no statistical differences for upper-limb (SMD: 0.56, 95% CI: -0.09, 1.21, p = 0.09, I2 = 68%), lower-limb (SMD: 0.00, 95% CI: -0.18, 0.18, p = 1.0, I2 = 11%), and handgrip strength (SMD: 0.03, 95% CI: -0.26, 0.32, p = 0.84, I2 = 0%) between the RT + PS and the RT alone (or combined with plS). Moreover, no statistical differences were found relating to physical performance. In view of these results, protein supplementation combined with RT does not provide additional benefits compared to RT alone or with plS in healthy elderly adults.

Keywords: elderly; muscle strength; physical performance; protein supplementation; resistance training.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Search Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Risk of bias summary.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Risk of bias graph.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Impact of RT + PS on lower-limb strength.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Impact of RT + PS on upper-limb strength.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Impact of RT + PS on handgrip strength.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Impact of RT + PS on gait speed.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Impact of RT + PS on Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB).
Figure 9
Figure 9
Impact of RT + PS on the five-chair-rise test (5CRT).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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