Does supplementation with leucine-enriched protein alone and in combination with fish-oil-derived n–3 PUFA affect muscle mass, strength, physical performance, and muscle protein synthesis in well-nourished older adults? A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Study answer

What this study found

Overall, leucine-enriched protein alone and with long-chain n-3 PUFAs did not improve appendicular lean mass, strength, physical performance, or integrated myofibrillar protein synthesis in these well-nourished older adults. Appendicular lean mass was unchanged versus control at postintervention: LEU-PRO 0.01 (-0.20, 0.22), P = 0.93; LEU-PRO+n-3 -0.08 (-0.29, 0.13), P = 0.44. Myofibrillar protein synthesis was also not different from control: LEU-PRO 0.14 %/d (95% CI: -0.25, 0.52; P = 0.46) and LEU-PRO+n-3 0.26 %/d (95% CI: -0.26, 0.78; P = 0.31). Isometric knee flexion peak torque was lower…

Study & population

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older at risk of sarcopenia.

Intervention

Participants in the active arms received a ready-to-drink, juice-based supplement twice daily for 24 weeks, before breakfast and before the second light meal.

Key limitation

The trial was relatively small and lasted only 24 weeks, which may limit power to detect modest changes in muscle outcomes.

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Original abstract