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Effect of Protein Supplementation During Diet‐Induced Weight Loss on Muscle Mass and Strength: A Randomized Controlled Study
Author(s) -
Smith Gordon I.,
Commean Paul K.,
Reeds Dominic N.,
Klein Samuel,
Mittendorfer Bettina
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1002/oby.22169
Subject(s) - weight loss , medicine , sarcopenia , obesity , endocrinology , randomized controlled trial , lean body mass , zoology , body weight , biology
Objective High protein (particularly leucine‐rich whey protein) intake is recommended to mitigate the adverse effect of weight loss on muscle mass. The effectiveness of this approach is unknown. Methods Seventy middle‐aged (50‐65 years old) postmenopausal women with obesity were randomized to (1) weight maintenance (WM), (2) weight loss and the recommended daily allowance for protein (0.8 g/kg/d) (WL group), or (3) weight loss plus whey protein supplementation (total protein: 1.2 g/kg/d) (WL‐PS group). Thigh muscle volume and strength were assessed at baseline and after 5% and 10% weight loss in the weight‐loss groups and after matched time periods (∼3 and 6 months, respectively) in the WM group. Results A 5% weight loss caused a greater decrease in thigh muscle volume in the WL group than the WL‐PS group (4.7% ± 0.7% vs. 2.8% ± 0.8%, respectively; P < 0.05). After 10% weight loss, there was no statistically significant difference in muscle mass loss in the two groups, and the total loss was small in both groups (5.5% ± 0.8% and 4.5% ± 0.7%, respectively). The dietary interventions did not affect muscle strength. Conclusions Whey protein supplementation during diet‐induced weight loss does not have clinically important therapeutic effects on muscle mass or strength in middle‐aged postmenopausal women with obesity.