When young women who are new to weight training do more sets and lifts, and eat at least 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, they tend to gain more muscle than those who don’t get enough protein.
Scientific Claim
Higher resistance training volume combined with protein intake exceeding 1.5 g/kg is associated with greater increases in lower limb lean soft tissue in young, untrained women, suggesting that adequate protein may enhance muscle hypertrophy responses to training.
Original Statement
“The interaction between VT and protein intake (g/kg) significantly explained changes in △ LST (p = 0.034; R² = 0.28). Individual VT appeared to elicit greater effect on muscle hypertrophy when accompanied by protein intake exceeding 1.5 g/kg.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
overstated
Study Design Support
Design cannot support claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The abstract uses causal phrasing ('elicited greater effect') but the study design is observational (cohort, no randomization or control group confirmed). Causation cannot be established. Verb strength must be downgraded to association.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
When young women who had never trained before did lots of leg exercises and ate more than 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, they gained more muscle than those who ate less protein—even if they did the same amount of exercise.