Effect of whey protein supplementation combined with resistance training on body composition, muscular strength, functional capacity, and plasma-metabolism biomarkers in older women with sarcopenic obesity: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the effects of whey protein supplementation combined with resistance training on body composition, muscular strength, functional capacity, and plasma-metabolism biomarkers in older women with sarcopenic obesity.
Results Summary
The whey protein group showed greater increases in appendicular lean soft tissue and greater decreases in total and trunk fat mass compared to the placebo group. Both groups improved in muscular strength, waist-hip ratio, functional capacity, and other plasma-metabolism biomarkers, but no significant differences were found between conditions for these outcomes.
Population
Older women with sarcopenic obesity (appendicular lean soft tissue < 15.02 kg and body fat mass ≥ 35%).
Effective Dosage
35 g of whey protein daily, combined with supervised resistance training (8 exercises, 3 × 8-12 reps, 3 times a week).
Duration
12 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
whey protein supplementation associated with resistance training | increase | appendicular lean soft tissue (ALST) | older women with sarcopenic obesity | 6.0% vs. PLA = 2.5% | greater increases in | #1 |
whey protein supplementation associated with resistance training | decrease | total fat mass | older women with sarcopenic obesity | -3.3% vs. -0.3% | greater decreases in | #2 |
whey protein supplementation associated with resistance training | decrease | trunk fat mass | older women with sarcopenic obesity | -5.1% vs. PLA = -1.1% | greater decreases in | #3 |
whey protein supplementation associated with resistance training | decrease | IL-6 | older women with sarcopenic obesity | -34.6% vs. PLA = 9.3% | greater decreases in | #4 |
whey protein supplementation associated with resistance training | increase | muscular strength | older women with sarcopenic obesity | - | improved | #5 |
whey protein supplementation associated with resistance training | decrease | waist-hip ratio | older women with sarcopenic obesity | - | improved | #6 |
whey protein supplementation associated with resistance training | increase | functional capacity | older women with sarcopenic obesity | - | improved | #7 |
whey protein supplementation associated with resistance training | increase | other plasma-metabolism biomarkers | older women with sarcopenic obesity | - | improved | #8 |
resistance training with placebo | increase | muscular strength | older women with sarcopenic obesity | - | improved | #9 |
resistance training with placebo | decrease | waist-hip ratio | older women with sarcopenic obesity | - | improved | #10 |
resistance training with placebo | increase | functional capacity | older women with sarcopenic obesity | - | improved | #11 |
resistance training with placebo | increase | other plasma-metabolism biomarkers | older women with sarcopenic obesity | - | improved | #12 |
BACKGROUNDS & AIMS: Obesity and sarcopenia are independent illnesses associated with contemporary dietary and physical activity behaviors, aggravated by aging. Their coexistence is termed sarcopenic obesity (SO). Hence, increasing protein intake and resistance training (RT) are interventions that could counteract these illnesses. The objective of this investigation was to analyze the effects of whey protein (WP) supplementation associated with RT on body composition, muscular strength, functional capacity, and plasma-metabolism biomarkers in older women with SO. METHODS: Twenty six sarcopenic (appendicular lean soft tissue ALST < 15.02 kg) obese (body fat mass ≥ 35%) older women were randomly assigned to receive daily, either 35 g of WP (WP group) or placebo (PLA group), combined with supervised RT (8 exercises, 3 × 8-12 rep, 3 times a week), during a 12-week protocol. Blood samples, blood pressure, dietary intake, functional capacity tests, the one repetition maximum (1RM) test, and body composition were assessed before and after the intervention period. Two-way analysis of variance for repeated measures was applied for comparisons. RESULTS: The WP group presented greater (P < 0.05) increases in ALST (WP = 6.0% vs. PLA = 2.5%) and decreases in (P < 0.05) total (-3.3% vs. -0.3%) and trunk fat mass (WP = -5.1% vs. PLA = -1.1) and IL-6 (WP = -34.6% vs. PLA = 9.3%) compared with the PLA group. Both groups demonstrated improved (P < 0.05) scores for muscular strength, waist-hip ratio, functional capacity, and other plasma-metabolism biomarkers without significant differences between conditions. CONCLUSION: Whey protein combined with RT increased ALST, and decreased total and trunk fat mass, improving sarcopenia and decreasing SO in older women, with a limited impact on inflammation. Registered under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier n° NCT03752359.