Protein supplements showed different results across older adult groups
An overview found no clear muscle gains in healthy older people, while selected clinical groups had more encouraging evidence.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Protein supplements did not show increases in muscle mass, strength or physical performance among healthy older adults or older people overall. Results differed for people with long-term conditions, where evidence supported at least small gains in muscle mass and strength. These subgroup findings do not establish a general benefit for all older adults.
The abstract does not report supplementation doses, intervention lengths, comparator regimens or numerical effect estimates. It therefore cannot establish a useful regimen or show how large the reported benefits were in practical terms.
Where the evidence looked stronger
For older people with long-term conditions, evidence for muscle mass and strength gains was rated medium certainty. Benefits were more certain when supplementation accompanied exercise, but the abstract does not quantify how much exercise changed the result.
A separate hospital finding
Among hospital patients with hip fractures, supplementation was linked to fewer medical complications. That is a different outcome in a specific clinical setting; it should not be treated as evidence that healthy older people gain muscle.
The original publication
Effects of supplemental protein in older people: an overview of meta-analyses.
Obasi AA, Gordon AL, Smith K et al.
Age Ageing · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41385355
- Record checked
AI-assisted research and writing. This explains one selected publication; it is not a complete review of everything known. Our approach.
One more question, understood.
Keep track of the research you’ve explored.