No abstract

Aging is associated with sarcopenia and dynapenia, with both processes contributing to functional dependence and mortality in older adults. Resistance training (RT) and increased protein intake are strategies that may contribute to health improvements in older adults. Therefore, the aim was to investigate the effects of whey protein (WP) supplementation consumed either immediately pre- or post-RT on skeletal muscle mass (SMM), muscular strength, and functional capacity in pre-conditioned older women. Seventy older women participated in this investigation and were randomly assigned to one of three groups: whey protein pre-RT and placebo post-RT (WP-PLA, n = 24), placebo pre-RT and whey protein post-RT (PLA-WP, n = 23), and placebo pre- and post-RT (PLA-PLA, n = 23). Each group ingested 35 g of WP or PLA. The RT program was carried out over 12 weeks (three times per week; 3 × 8–12 repetition maximum). Body composition, muscular strength, functional capacity, and dietary intake were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Two-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) for repeated measures, with baseline scores as covariates were used for data analysis. A time vs. group interaction (p < 0.05) was observed with WP-PLA and PLA-WP presenting greater increases compared with PLA-PLA for SMM (WP-PLA = 3.4%; PLA-WP = 4.2%; PLA-PLA = 2.0%), strength (WP-PLA = 8.1%; PLA-WP = 8.3%; PLA-PLA = 7.0%), and the 10-m walk test (WP-PLA = −10.8%; PLA-WP = −11.8%; PLA-PLA = −4.3%). Whey protein supplementation was effective in promoting increases in SMM, muscular strength, and functional capacity in pre-conditioned older women, regardless of supplementation timing. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03247192.

Our findings suggest that healthy elderly women with higher values of PhA have a better muscle quality and functionality, regardless of age and body composition.

No abstract

The main purpose of this study was to compare the effects of resistance training (RT) performed with different training volumes on phase angle (PhA), body water components, and muscle quality (MQ) in untrained older adult women. A second purpose was to assess the relationship between PhA and MQ. Sixty-two older adult women (68.6 ± 5.0 years, 65.2 ± 13.3 kg, 156.1 ± 6.2 cm) were randomly assigned into one of the three groups: two training groups performed either 1 set (G1S) or 3 sets (G3S), or a control group (CG). Body water components and PhA were estimated by bioelectrical impedance (BIA). MQ was determined by dividing skeletal muscle mass estimated by dual-energy absorptiometry (DXA) by total muscle strength from three exercises. After the intervention period, both training groups demonstrated improvements (P < 0.05) when compared with CON for intracellular water, total body water, PhA, and MQ. These results suggest that RT can improve PhA, body water components, and MQ after 12 weeks of RT in untrained older women, regardless of training volume. Furthermore, changes in MQ were positively correlated with changes in PhA (r = 0.60, P < 0.01).