More protein helps older women keep muscle and lose belly fat
Role of protein intake in maintaining muscle mass composition among elderly females suffering from sarcopenia
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Muscle quality improved—not just size—by reducing fat infiltration inside muscles.
Most assume muscle gain = bigger muscles. But this study shows protein cleans out fat trapped inside muscles, which is even more important for function.
Practical Takeaways
If you’re a woman over 60, aim for 1.2 grams of protein per kg of body weight daily—e.g., a 70kg woman needs 84g protein/day.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Muscle quality improved—not just size—by reducing fat infiltration inside muscles.
Most assume muscle gain = bigger muscles. But this study shows protein cleans out fat trapped inside muscles, which is even more important for function.
Practical Takeaways
If you’re a woman over 60, aim for 1.2 grams of protein per kg of body weight daily—e.g., a 70kg woman needs 84g protein/day.
Publication
Journal
Frontiers in Nutrition
Year
2025
Authors
Izwa Ishaq, Sana Noreen, Patrick Maduabuchi Aja, A. Atoki
Related Content
Claims (6)
For women aged 60 to 75 with muscle loss due to aging, consuming more protein each day for 12 weeks leads to measurable increases in thigh and calf muscle size, stronger hand and knee muscles, and reductions in body fat and waist size.
In older women with muscle loss, eating more protein each day for 12 weeks leads to a larger decrease in body fat and waist size compared to eating the standard amount of protein.
In older women with muscle loss, increasing daily protein intake from 0.8 to 1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight for 12 weeks leads to a measurable decrease in fat deposits within and around the thigh and calf muscles.
For older women with muscle loss, increasing daily protein intake from 0.8 to 1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight for 12 weeks leads to measurable improvements in handgrip strength and knee flexion strength compared to maintaining the standard intake.
For older women with muscle loss, eating more protein—1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight per day instead of 0.8 grams—over 12 weeks leads to bigger gains in muscle size and strength.