For Older Muscle Quality, Lifting Weights Beat Supplements and Cardio
Graded Strong — meta-analysis of 41 randomized trials with 3,141 adults aged 60 and over, each lasting at least 8 weeks, though results varied widely across studies.
- Design
- Review
- Participants
- 3,141
- Duration
- —
- Funding
- One author has a Japanese patent application for a muscle ultrasound analysis…
This review suggests resistance training is the best-supported way to improve muscle quality after 60.
Looking at dozens of trials in adults over 60, resistance training was the only thing that clearly improved muscle quality (strength relative to muscle size). Cardio, combined training, and nutrition supplements on their own didn't show clear gains. The results varied a lot between studies, so the supplement question stays open rather than settled.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: One author has a Japanese patent application for a muscle ultrasound analysis program.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.
Topics
Related Studies
All researchBed Rest Hits Muscle and Bone Together, and Combined Fixes May Help Older Adults
A hospital stay in bed can speed up muscle and bone loss in older adults, and the two tissues seem to fall apart together.
Swinging Vitamin D Levels Linked to Muscle Loss in Older Patients
Older patients whose vitamin D levels bounced around a lot over repeated tests were more likely to have sarcopenia, the age-related loss of…
Low Selenium May Be a Risk Factor for Age-Related Muscle Loss, Review Finds
Older people with low selenium levels tend to have weaker grip and less muscle, and the lower the level, the worse it looks.