ABSTRACT
To evaluate the effectiveness of a 24-week nutritional supplementation program involving whey protein intake after resistance exercise in treatment of sarcopenia and quality of life (QOL) among older women with sarcopenia, we carried out a pilot study, randomized controlled trial among elderly individuals with sarcopenia, aged 65-years or older, who were allocated to three groups: exercise and whey protein supplementation (Ex+Whey) group, exercise (Ex) group, and whey protein supplementation (Whey) group. Sarcopenia was defined using the Asian Working Group for sarcopenia 2014 criteria, as follows: low hand-grip strength (<18.0 kg) or slow gait speed (<0.8m/sec), and low skeletal muscle mass index (SMI, <5.7kg/m2). A 24-week program of resistance exercise, carried out twice per week, was combined with whey protein supplementation, involving 11.0 g of protein and 2,300 mg of leucine. After the 24-week intervention period, the Ex+Whey group (n=20) showed a decrease in sarcopenia, lower SMI, lower grip strength, and increase in physical QOL score (sarcopenia; p=0.004, SMI and grip strength; p=0.008, QOL; p=0.027). After the 24-week intervention period, the Whey group (n=20) showed a decrease in sarcopenia and lower SMI (all p=0.017). The Ex-group (n=19) did not show a decrease in sarcopenia, lower SMI, and lower grip strength. These results suggest that resistance exercise and whey protein intake in older women with sarcopenia, on the multiple outcome measures such as improves lower SMI, lower grip strength, and physical QOL. However, there were no between-group differences in the change from the pre- to the post-intervention period at 24 weeks in the lower SMI and lower grip strength. In this study, the intervention effect of Ex+Whey could not be clearly shown in the outcome measures.