The Effects of Cow-Milk Protein Supplementation in Elderly Population: Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis

Abstract

Background. To review currently available evidence on the effect of cow-milk proteins supplementation (CPS) on health in the elderly. Methods. Five electronic databases (Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov) were searched for studies about CPS among older people. All types of publications were included, with the exception of systematic reviews, meta-analyses, opinion letters, editorials, case reports, conference abstracts and comments. An additional search in Google Scholar and a manual review of the reference lists were performed. Results. Overall, 103 studies were included. Several studies explored the role of CPS in the preservation or improvement of muscle mass among healthy subjects (40 studies) and pre-frail, frail or sarcopenic patients (14), with evidence of beneficial effects. Other studies assessed the effect of CPS on bones (12), cardiovascular disease (8), inflamm-aging (7), chronic pulmonary disease (4), neurocognitive function (4), and vaccines (2), with weak evidence of positive effects. Seven studies in the field of protein metabolism investigated the role of CPS as an important contributor to nutritional needs. Other investigational areas are considered in the last five studies. Conclusions. The beneficial effects of CPS in achieving aged-related nutritional goals, in preserving muscle mass and in recovering after hospitalization may be particularly relevant in the elderly.

Presarcopenia and chronic cough due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease successfully treated with nutraceutical supplements and physical exercise

“…These subjects received 20 g/day of whey protein, obtained a positive effect on muscle mass, reduced required assistance, and increased general well-being in the active group compared to the placebo group. [12] Interestingly, whey protein was already used in COPD patients, and in that study, the author performed a single-blinded placebocontrolled trial with 40 COPD patients. They found after 8 weeks an increase of fat-free mass, body protein, handgrip strength, and quality of life, and in the opposite, a decrease in interleukin-6 levels, a pro-inflammatory cytokine.…”

Can Nutrition Contribute to a Reduction in Sarcopenia, Frailty, and Comorbidities in a Super-Aged Society?

“…Three systematic reviews demonstrated the effect of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) on muscle mass and strength [46][47][48]. Scholars also reported the effects of cow-milk protein supplementation on muscle mass [49] and the effect of whey protein on physical performance [50]. In addition, three systematic reviews demonstrated the effectiveness of nutritional interventions [51][52][53].…”

Comparative Efficacy of Different Protein Supplements on Muscle Mass, Strength, and Physical Indices of Sarcopenia among Community-Dwelling, Hospitalized or Institutionalized Older Adults Undergoing Resistance Training: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

“…Previous systemic review and meta-analysis studies have compared the effects of different protein sources during exercise training [44,[62][63][64][65][66][67], among which the compared protein supplements included whey [44,[62][63][64][65]67], milk [44,63,65,67], casein [44,62,65,67], beef [63,64], soy [62,63,65,67], and cereal protein [63,65]. However, all such protein supplements were not yet fully compared in single meta-analysis study and the most effective treatment option remains unknown.…”