The Claim

In elderly men over 70 years of age, a protein intake of 1.6 g/kg/day for 10 weeks results in an increase in trunk lean mass of approximately 1.39 kg greater than a protein intake of 0.8 g/kg/day under conditions of moderate negative energy balance.

Source: The effects of dietary protein intake on appendicular lean mass and muscle function in elderly men: a 10-wk randomized controlled trial.

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
66score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Cause and effect
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Among men over 70, consuming 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily for 10 weeks leads to 1.39 kilograms more trunk lean mass gain than consuming 0.8 grams per kilogram daily, even when both groups are in a moderate calorie deficit.

See the scientific wording

In elderly men over 70, a protein intake of 1.6 g/kg/day for 10 weeks increases trunk lean mass by approximately 1.39 kg more than a 0.8 g/kg/day intake, despite both groups being in a moderate negative energy balance.

Why this might work

When elderly men eat more protein, their blood carries more amino acids, especially leucine, which turns on a cellular switch that tells muscle cells to build more protein. This happens even when they are eating fewer calories than they burn. Over time, the muscle cells make more protein than they break down, so their trunk muscles grow larger.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: The effects of dietary protein intake on appendicular lean mass and muscle function in elderly men: a 10-wk randomized controlled trial.

    Even when older men ate fewer calories than they burned, those who ate twice as much protein gained more muscle in their torso than those who ate the standard amount. Protein helped them keep and build muscle, even on a diet.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

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