Effects of whey proteins and carbohydrates on the efficacy of resistance training in elderly people: double blind, randomised controlled trial

• Published in: European journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 67; no. 8; pp. 821 - 826
• Main Authors: Arnarson, A, Gudny Geirsdottir, O, Ramel, A, Briem, K, Jonsson, P V, Thorsdottir, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.08.2013; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 692/699/375/374; 692/700/1518; 692/700/459/1994; 692/700/565; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bioenergetics; Biological and medical sciences; Body Composition - drug effects; Body Fluid Compartments - drug effects; Body mass; Carbohydrates; Clinical Nutrition; Dietary Carbohydrates - pharmacology; Dietary Proteins - pharmacology; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Double-blind studies; Energy metabolism; Epidemiology; Exercise - physiology; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health aspects; Humans; Ingestion; Internal Medicine; Lean body mass; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Milk Proteins - pharmacology; Muscle strength; Muscle Strength - drug effects; Muscle, Skeletal - drug effects; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Older people; original-article; Physical Fitness - physiology; Physical growth; Physical training; Physiological aspects; Proteins; Public Health; Quadriceps muscle; Resistance Training; Sports training; Strengthening exercises; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Walking; Weightlifting; Whey; Whey protein; Whey Proteins; Iceland; muscle strength; muscle mass; whey protein; resistance exercise; elderly; protein; Human; Physical exercise; Metabolic diseases; Whey; Protein; Randomization; Double blind study; Carbohydrate; Muscle; Elderly; Strength
• ISSN: 0954-3007; 1476-5640
• DOI: 10.1038/ejcn.2013.40

Background/objectives: A few previous studies indicate that protein supplementation increases gains in muscle mass and strength during a resistance exercise program. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether whey protein supplementation results in greater increases in lean body mass, muscle strength and physical function in elderly individuals during 12 weeks of resistance exercise when compared to isocaloric carbohydrate supplementation. Subjects/Methods: A total of 161 men and women, 65–91 years old, participated in a randomized, controlled, double-blind intervention study, involving dietary supplementation and a 12-week resistance exercise program, designed to increase muscle mass and strength of all major muscle groups. Participants exercised three times a week and received either 20 g of whey protein ( n =83) or isocaloric carbohydrate ( n =78) in liquid form immediately after each workout. Data were obtained at baseline and end point. Results: The primary outcomes, lean body mass, strength and physical function increased significantly during the course of the study. Type of dietary supplementation did not influence gains in lean body mass ( P =0.365), quadriceps strength ( P =0.776) or performance during a 6-min walk ( P =0.726) or a timed up-and-go test ( P =0.151). Twenty participants discontinued the intervention. Conclusions: Ingestion of 20 g of whey protein immediately after resistance exercise three times per week, does not lead to greater gains in lean body mass, strength and physical function in elderly people with sufficient energy and protein intakes when compared to isocaloric carbohydrate.