The Study
Effects of resistance exercise and whey protein supplementation on skeletal muscle strength, mass, physical function, and hormonal and inflammatory biomarkers in healthy active older men: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
This study gave different groups of older men either exercise, protein shakes, both, or nothing, and then measured what changed. Because they randomly assigned who got what, we can say the exercise and protein probably caused the changes they saw — but only in this small group of healthy men.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Older men who lifted weights twice a week got stronger, gained a little muscle, walked farther, and had less body fat and inflammation. Those who drank protein shakes walked a bit faster, but the shakes didn't make the weights any more effective.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 561 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1These changes mean older men became noticeably stronger, moved better, and had less body fat and inflammation — all important for staying independent and healthy.
- 2Lifting weights: +19–20 kg leg extension strength, +27–39 kg leg press, +0.9 kg muscle, +21 m walking distance, -0.4 kg fat, lower inflammation.
- 3Protein shakes: +0.08 m/s gait speed.
- 4No extra benefit when combined.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Experimental gerontology
Year
2021
Authors
C. Griffen, M. Duncan, J. Hattersley, M. Weickert, A. Dallaway, D. Renshaw
Related Content
Claims (9)
For healthy, active men aged 67, adding whey protein to resistance training does not lead to greater gains in muscle strength, lean body mass, physical function, or lower inflammation than resistance training by itself.
In healthy active men aged 67, taking 25 grams of whey protein twice daily for 12 weeks results in a 0.08 meters per second increase in walking speed, regardless of whether they perform resistance exercise.
In healthy active men aged 67, performing resistance exercise twice a week for 12 weeks results in a 0.9 kg increase in fat-free mass and a 0.4 kg decrease in fat mass.
In healthy active men aged 67, doing resistance exercise twice a week for 12 weeks results in a 21-meter increase in how far they can walk in 6 minutes and lowers levels of the inflammatory proteins interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.
In healthy active men aged 67, taking whey protein in addition to resistance exercise does not lead to greater improvements in muscle strength, fat-free mass, physical function, or levels of inflammatory biomarkers compared to resistance exercise alone.
In healthy active men aged 67, performing resistance exercise twice a week for 12 weeks results in an increase of 19–20 kg in leg extension strength and 27–39 kg in leg press strength.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.