← All sources
Effects of protein supplementation on muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in older adults with physical inactivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis
PRISMA systematic review (six RCTs; eight analysis groups stratified by physical-activity trajectories) found no statistically significant protein effect on total lean body mass in physically inactive or declining-activity older adults, with negligible secondary muscle-mass signals and heterogeneous strength/performance endpoints.
Design
- Search: inception → 31 Jan 2025; PRISMA
- Included: six RCTs → eight analysis groups stratified by PA trajectories (sustained low PA, transition to structured training from low PA, shift from moderate to low PA)
- Population: older adults with physical inactivity / mobility constraints
Muscle mass (abstract)
- Total lean body mass: no statistically significant protein effect (p > 0.05)
- Secondary muscle mass indices: negligible gains
- Strength / performance: heterogeneous—read forest plots before selecting a single headline number
Evidence hygiene
This is not a resistance-training hypertrophy trial in athletes—use next to resistance-training load-progression evidence and protein-timing reviews for active cohorts.
Publication
Zhang L, Zhou X, Guo Y, et al. BMC Geriatr. 2025 Apr 8;25(1):311. PMID 40200135.
Outcomes
- Pooled synthesis across six RCTs/eight inactive-older-adult strata: protein supplementation did not significantly change total lean body mass (p > 0.05); secondary muscle-mass parameters showed negligible benefits.