The impact of nutritional intervention and resistance training on muscle strength and mass in healthy older adults-a comparative analysis.

Front Nutr

Badminton Technical and Tactical Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory, National Academy of Badminton, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.

Published: August 2025


Category Ranking

98%

Total Visits

921

Avg Visit Duration

2 minutes

Citations

20

Article Abstract

Objective: A growing body of evidence confirms that nutritional supplementation strategies combined with resistance training can enhance muscle strength and mass in older adults. However, the optimal supplementation approach remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the comparative efficacy of different nutritional interventions combined with resistance training on muscle strength and mass in healthy older adults and determine the optimal strategy.

Methods: A systematic search was performed across three major biomedical databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and EMbase) to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of nutritional supplementation combined with resistance training on muscle strength and mass in healthy older adults. A total of 19 eligible RCTs were included. The search covered literature from database inception to April 2025. Two researchers independently screened studies against predefined eligibility criteria and assessed methodological quality using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Stata 18.0 was used to conduct network meta-analysis.

Conclusion: Compared with resistance training alone, protein supplementation combined with resistance training significantly enhanced muscle strength [Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) = 0.45, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.20,0.69; surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) = 98.7%] and muscle mass [Mean Difference (MD) = 0.37, 95%CI: 0.04,0.70],whereas creatine supplementation demonstrated non-significant effects on muscle strength versus training alone (SMD = 0.03, 95% CI: -0.35,0.42) but yielded the most pronounced improvement in muscle mass (MD = 2.18, 95%CI: 0.92,3.44; SUCRA = 99.9%), outperforming both protein and β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) interventions, with HMB supplementation critically failing to demonstrate significant benefits for muscle strength (SMD = -0.22, 95%CI: -0.57,0.12) or mass outcomes (MD = 0.05, 95%CI: -0.33,0.44).

Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251026016.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12400859PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1640858DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

muscle strength
28
resistance training
24
strength mass
16
combined resistance
16
training muscle
12
mass healthy
12
healthy older
12
older adults
12
muscle
9
nutritional supplementation
8

Similar Publications

Impact of muscle strength decline and exercise intervention on multimorbidity of chronic diseases in older adults.

Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban

May 2025

School of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China.

Multimorbidity of chronic diseases is one of the most common health issues among older adults, and the resulting demand for long-term medical care and management imposes a considerable burden on healthcare systems. Muscle strength, a core indicator of overall health status, is closely associated with the risk of developing multimorbidity of chronic diseases in older adults. Decline in muscle strength not only increases the risk of multimorbidity of chronic diseases but also interacts with it to exacerbate disease burden.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF) is based on a less-invasive access corridor through the retroperitoneum and psoas muscle, though concerns persist over postoperative weakness and neuropathy on the surgical side. This study investigates if the trans-psoas LLIF approach is associated with long-term changes in psoas morphology, hip flexor (HF) weakness, and lower extremity dysesthesia.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed all LLIF cases at a single institution from January 2016 to June 2024.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Frailty in older adults impairs Activities of Daily Living (ADL). While exercise interventions improve factors like muscle strength and physical function, their direct impact on ADL ability is inconsistent. This review aims to assess the effectiveness of exercise on ADL ability, identify the most beneficial interventions, and explore mediators.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Comparison of muscle activity between isokinetic and iso-inertial exercise.

J Electromyogr Kinesiol

September 2025

Human Movement Laboratory, School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, New South Wales, Australia; Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, New South Wales, Australia.

Background: Resistance training plays a crucial role in musculoskeletal rehabilitation and athletic performance. Traditional resistance training often underloads the eccentric phase, as muscles generate more force while lengthening. Isokinetic and iso-inertial exercises have been used to overcome this limitation, with both showing greater muscle activity compared to traditional methods, potentially leading to enhanced strength and hypertrophy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Integrative physiology of skeletal muscle for maintaining cognitive health.

J Physiol

September 2025

Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.

Cognitive decline and physical impairment are often linked with ageing, contributing to declines in health span and loss of independence in older adults. Pathological cognitive decline with age is largely considered to be a brain-centric challenge. However, recent findings have begun to challenge this paradigm as the health of peripheral systems, namely skeletal muscle, predict cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF