The 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
This study is like a fair test where two groups of older men did the same workouts, but one group ate more protein. The group with more protein got a bit stronger and built a little more muscle. But we can't say the protein alone did it—maybe they just tried harder, or the protein helped because they were already working out.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Older men who lifted weights and ate more protein got stronger and gained more muscle than those who ate the usual amount.
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 574 / 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.
- 1Yes — gaining over 1kg more muscle and nearly double the strength gains can make daily tasks easier and reduce fall risk in older adults.
- 2With 1.6g protein per kg body weight: muscle mass increased by 1.3kg, chest press strength by 8.2kg, leg press by 11.5kg.
- 3With 0.8g/kg: muscle mass +0.7kg, chest press +4.1kg, leg press +6.1kg.
- 4Creatinine and ALT rose slightly but stayed normal.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Frontiers in Nutrition
Year
2023
Authors
R. Bagheri, A. Shakibaee, D. Camera, V. Sobhani, Hamid Ghobadi, Eisa Nazar, H. Fakhari, F. Dutheil
Related Content
Claims (7)
Eating a high-protein diet does not damage the kidneys in people with healthy kidney function, even though it raises levels of creatinine and urea in the blood.
For healthy older men doing strength training, eating 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day does not result in greater gains in muscular power or endurance than eating 0.8 grams per kilogram per day.
In healthy older men, doing resistance training and eating either 0.8 or 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day for 8 weeks does not change body fat percentage.
Healthy older men who lift weights and consume 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily show higher levels of serum creatinine and alanine transaminase after 8 weeks than those consuming 0.8 grams per kilogram, but both groups remain within normal clinical ranges.
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.
In healthy older men, doing resistance training without changing protein intake lowers LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol levels.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.