1000 Section - Comparative efficacy among different combined regimens of protein supplement and exercise modality in older adults: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PT

Presenting Author/Autor expositor(s)

CL

Chun-De Liao, PhD

Associate professor
Taipei Medical University
New Taipei City, New Taipei, Taiwan (Republic of China)

Co-Author/Coautor(s)

CL

Che-Li Lin, PhD

Associate professor
Taipei Medical University
New Taipei City, New Taipei, Taiwan (Republic of China)

Corresponding Author/Autor a quien dirigir la corr(s)

SH

Shih-Wei Huang, MD

Director of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
Wan Fang Hospital
Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan (Republic of China)

Objectives : Aging-related sarcopenia exerts harmful impacts on muscle mass, strength, and physical mobility. Protein supplementation (PS) has been demonstrated to augment efficacy of exercise training (ExT) in elderly. This study compared the relative effects of PS combined with different ExT on sarcopenia indices in older individuals.

Design: A comprehensive search of online databases was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the efficacy of PS plus ExT in older adults. Network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed using a frequentist method for all analyses. Standard mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated for main outcomes. The ranking probabilities for effect estimation among the treatments were expressed using surface-under-the cumulative-ranking (SUCRA) scores. The quality of evidence was determined using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB2) tool and GRADE framework.

Results: We finally included 235 RCTs (20980 participants) for analyses. A total of four PS type (whey, soy, milk, and protein-rich diet) and three exercise modalities (resistance training, aerobic training, and composited regimen) were identified in this NMA. Whey plus resistance training was ranked as the most effective treatments on muscle mass (SMD = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.16-1.64; SUCRA = 0.95), handgrip strength (SMD = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.64-1.11; SUCRA = 0.85), and walking speed (SMD = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.81-1.35; SUCRA = 0.85). The certainty of the evidence was overall ranked as moderate.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, whey PS in combination with resistance-based ExT was determined to be the optimal treatment regimen for sarcopenia indices, corresponding with large effects and moderate certainty of evidence. The findings of this NMA may guide the prescription of PS during ExT intervention for ensuring optimal treatment outcomes.