The Claim

Protein intake is associated with skeletal muscle mass gains in older women undergoing resistance training, with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.23, indicating that protein intake explains a small portion of the variability in muscle mass changes.

Source: Is There a Minimum Protein Intake Associated With Resistance Training to Optimize Skeletal Muscle Mass Gains in Untrained Older Women?

What the research says

Supports is higher

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

Supports
44score
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.

Correlation
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In older women doing resistance training, the amount of protein consumed is weakly related to changes in muscle mass, accounting for only a small part of the differences seen between individuals.

See the scientific wording

The association between protein intake and skeletal muscle mass gains in older women undergoing resistance training is modest, with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.23, indicating that protein intake explains only a small portion of the variability in muscle mass changes.

Why this might work

When older women lift weights, their muscles experience tension that triggers molecular signals to build new muscle proteins, but the ability to use dietary protein for this process is reduced because the signals that turn on protein building are weaker and the muscle repair cells respond less strongly than in younger people.

Suggested mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Is There a Minimum Protein Intake Associated With Resistance Training to Optimize Skeletal Muscle Mass Gains in Untrained Older Women?

    The study found that older women who ate more protein gained a bit more muscle, but protein alone didn’t explain much of why some women gained more than others — it’s just one small piece of the puzzle.

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.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.