RCTHumann = 332026United Kingdom
Metabolic flexibility following resistance exercise and a high protein diet in older men: results from a 12-week randomized controlled trial.
Plain-language summary
This study looked at whether resistance exercise and a high-protein diet could improve metabolic flexibility (the body's ability to switch between burning carbs and fats for fuel) in older men. It assigned 33 healthy older men to either resistance training twice a week or no exercise, and to a high-protein diet with whey supplements or a control diet with maltodextrin. After 12 weeks, resistance exercise improved metabolic flexibility during sleep-to-awake transitions and exercise, while the high-protein diet showed only a small benefit during one exercise bout. The combination of exercise and high protein did not work better than exercise alone.
Key findings
- Resistance exercise improved metabolic flexibility in older men.
- A high-protein diet had a limited effect on metabolic flexibility.
- No added benefit was seen from combining resistance exercise with a high-protein diet.
How to analyze the study yourself
- Study type
- Randomized controlled trials are strong for testing cause and effect but may not reflect real-world conditions outside the study setting.
- Population
- Healthy older men with an average age of 67 and normal BMI.
- Funding
- Not reported
- Watch for
- This study found that resistance exercise improved metabolic flexibility in older men, while a high-protein diet had only a small effect. If you're looking to boost your body's fuel-switching ability as you age, strength training may be worth adding to your routine.