Strength Training and Nutrition Help Prevent Sarcopenia in Older Adults

Milton Pereira, Ana Carolina Silva, Vinícius Mapa, Lilian Peixoto, Ingrid Lacerda, João Batista Ferreira-Júnior, Izinara Rosse, Emerson Cruz de Oliveira, Lenice Kappes Becker, Gabriela Venturini and Daniel Barbosa Coelho ()
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Milton Pereira: School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
Ana Carolina Silva: Postgraduate Program in Health and Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, MG, Brazil
Vinícius Mapa: School of Physical Education and Postgraduate Program in Health and Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, MG, Brazil
Lilian Peixoto: Postgraduate Program in Health and Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, MG, Brazil
Ingrid Lacerda: Postgraduate Program in Health and Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, MG, Brazil
João Batista Ferreira-Júnior: Department of Physical Education, Federal Institute of Southeast MG—Campus Rio Pomba, Rio Pomba 36180-000, MG, Brazil
Izinara Rosse: School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, MG, Brazil
Emerson Cruz de Oliveira: School of Physical Education and Postgraduate Program in Health and Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, MG, Brazil
Lenice Kappes Becker: School of Physical Education and Postgraduate Program in Health and Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, MG, Brazil
Gabriela Venturini: Federal Center for Technological Education (CEFET MG), Leopoldina Campus, Leopoldina 36700-000, MG, Brazil
Daniel Barbosa Coelho: School of Physical Education and Postgraduate Program in Health and Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400-000, MG, Brazil

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 7, 1-11

Abstract: Sarcopenia is a musculoskeletal, progressive, and generalized disease characterized by decreased muscle strength and mass, leading to reduced quality of life. Sarcopenia is directly related to age, a sedentary lifestyle, and poor nutrition. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of 12-week progressive intensity Resistance Training (RT) associated with nutritional advice on the frequency of sarcopenia in older adults. A total of 74 older adults (37 in the intervention group and 37 in the control group), with a mean age of 69.1 ± 6.85 years, were included in the study. The sarcopenia status of the participants was assessed at baseline and after a 12-week intervention. In the intervention group, resistance training combined with nutritional counseling reduced the prevalence of sarcopenia from 35.14% to 0% ( p < 0.001). Additionally, participants in the intervention group showed significant improvements in handgrip strength (from 27.70 ± 10.71 to 30.24 ± 10.38 kg), chair stand test performance (from 14.04 ± 3.46 to 11.67 ± 1.80 s), and time up and go test (from 7.49 ± 1.20 to 6.74 ± 0.95 s) ( p < 0.05). On the other hand, the control group increased the incidence of sarcopenia ( p < 0.001). After 12 weeks, progressive intensity RT associated with nutritional advice proved to be an effective treatment to reverse sarcopenia and help participants remain non-sarcopenic. In addition, the results of this study provide information about efficient and non-pharmacological sarcopenia treatment.

Keywords: sarcopenia; resistance training; nutrition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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