The Claim

In healthy, untrained older men aged 61 years, consuming 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily during 8 weeks of resistance training results in significantly greater increases in skeletal muscle mass (1.3 kg) and upper and lower body strength (chest press: 8.2 kg; leg press: 11.5 kg) compared to consuming 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily during the same intervention period.

Source: Effects of 8 weeks of resistance training in combination with a high protein diet on body composition, muscular performance, and markers of liver and kidney function in untrained older ex-military men

What the research says

Supports is higher

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

Supports
74score
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

In healthy, untrained men aged 61, eating 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight each day while doing resistance training for 8 weeks leads to greater gains in muscle mass and strength than eating 0.8 grams per kilogram per day.

See the scientific wording

In healthy, untrained older men aged 61 years, consuming 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily during 8 weeks of resistance training leads to significantly greater increases in skeletal muscle mass (1.3 kg vs. 0.7 kg) and upper and lower body strength (chest press: 8.2 kg vs. 4.1 kg; leg press: 11.5 kg vs. 6.1 kg) compared to consuming 0.8 grams per kilogram daily, suggesting higher protein intake enhances muscle adaptation to resistance training in this population.

Why this might work

Eating more protein increases amino acids in the blood, which turn on a cellular switch that tells muscle cells to build more protein. This switch stays active longer when protein is consumed after exercise, so muscle cells make more protein than they break down. Over weeks, this causes muscle fibers to grow larger and stronger.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study

  1. Study: Effects of 8 weeks of resistance training in combination with a high protein diet on body composition, muscular performance, and markers of liver and kidney function in untrained older ex-military men

    In older men just starting weight training, eating more protein (1.6 grams per kg of body weight) led to bigger gains in muscle and strength than eating the usual amount (0.8 grams per kg), and it was perfectly safe.

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

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