The Study
EFFECTS OF RESISTANCE TRAINING AND PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTATION ON CARDIORESPIRATORY, METABOLIC, IMMUNOLOGICAL, RENAL, AND BODY COMPOSITION VARIABLES IN THE ELDERLY
This study gave different groups of older people different routines — some exercised, some took protein shakes, some did both, and some did nothing. Then they checked if their health got better. Because people were randomly assigned, we can guess that the routines caused the changes — but we’re not 100% sure because the people and testers knew who got what.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Older adults who lifted weights three times a week got stronger and kept more muscle. Drinking protein shakes alone didn’t help much unless they weren’t eating enough protein already. But if they did both — lifting and drinking — they got the best results.
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 550 / 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 — stronger legs mean easier standing, walking, and avoiding falls; better lung function helps with daily activities like climbing stairs.
- 2After 3 months, people who lifted weights improved leg strength (sit-to-stand), hand grip, and lung function.
- 3Those who did both lifting and protein shakes gained more muscle than those who did just one.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
CIPEEX
Year
2023
Authors
Anamei Silva Reis, Meiry de Souza Moura Maia, R. Vieira
Related Content
Claims (6)
In frail older adults, resistance training is required to realize the muscle and functional health benefits from dietary protein; taking protein supplements without resistance training does not improve strength, muscle mass, or physical performance unless their usual protein intake is less than 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight per day.
In adults aged 60 to 85, taking protein supplements daily for three months along with resistance training leads to small increases in muscle mass and strength, while taking protein supplements without resistance training does not produce meaningful changes in muscle mass or strength.
In adults aged 60–85, doing resistance training and taking daily protein supplements for three months leads to greater increases in lean mass and muscle strength than doing either one alone.
For adults aged 60 to 85, doing resistance training and taking protein supplements does not change blood pressure, heart rate, or urine markers over three months.
In adults aged 60 to 85, a structured resistance training program performed three times weekly for three months leads to measurable increases in lean body mass, leg strength, and lung function compared to no exercise.
In adults aged 60 to 85, a three-month resistance training program is linked to increased lower limb strength measured by the sit-to-stand test. This study does not show a clear effect on lung function, kidney markers, or immune system proteins.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.