The Claim

Twelve weeks of progressive resistance training combined with optimized protein intake (1.2 g/kg/day) increases basal myofibrillar protein synthesis by 47% and improves type I and IIa muscle fiber cross-sectional area by 16% and 28%, respectively, in frail and pre-frail older women, leading to a 2% gain in total lean mass and reduced frailty status.

Source: Resistance training, but not leucine, increased basal muscle protein synthesis and reversed frailty in older women consuming optimized protein intake.

What the research says

Supports is higher

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

Supports
72score
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 frail and pre-frail older women, 12 weeks of progressive resistance training with 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day increases muscle protein synthesis, enlarges type I and IIa muscle fibers, increases total lean mass by 2%, and reduces frailty status.

See the scientific wording

Twelve weeks of progressive resistance training combined with optimized protein intake (1.2 g/kg/day) increases basal myofibrillar protein synthesis by 47% and improves type I and IIa muscle fiber cross-sectional area by 16% and 28%, respectively, in frail and pre-frail older women, leading to a 2% gain in total lean mass and reduced frailty status.

Why this might work

When muscles are stretched and pulled during strength exercises, sensors in the muscle fibers detect the force and turn on a molecular switch that tells the cell to make more muscle proteins. This causes the muscle fibers to grow thicker, especially the slow-twitch and fast-twitch endurance fibers, which adds muscle mass and makes the body stronger and less frail.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study

  1. Study: Resistance training, but not leucine, increased basal muscle protein synthesis and reversed frailty in older women consuming optimized protein intake.

    In older women who are weak or getting weaker, doing strength training three times a week for 12 weeks while eating enough protein made their muscles grow bigger, repair themselves faster, and helped them become less frail — exactly what the claim says.

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

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

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