Nutrients
Effects of Body-Mass-Scaled Protein and Leucine Supplementation on Body Composition and Cardiometabolic Blood Markers During Weight Loss in Older Men-A Randomized Controlled Trial
By Pang BWJ, Yang Y and Cheon BK.
Abstract
Background
Overweight and obesity are burgeoning health epidemics. Diets including alternate-day fasting (ADF) promote weight loss but risk significant muscle loss, posing health implications to seniors at risk of sarcopenia. Leucine, the key muscle protein synthesis (MPS) driver, effectively stimulates MPS with lower calorie intake than protein. However, the effects of body-mass-scaled protein and leucine intakes are unclear.
Objectives
To evaluate body-mass-scaled leucine or protein supplementation on body composition, sarcopenic, and cardiometabolic markers in older men during ADF.
Methods
Sixty-one older men (BMI ≥ 23.0 kg/m2) underwent 28 days of ADF, randomized across three calorie-matched supplement groups: Control (C: 0.0 g/kg protein, 0.0 g/kg leucine), Leucine (L: 0.0 g/kg protein, 0.08 g/kg leucine), or Protein (P: 0.4 g/kg protein, 0.04 g/kg leucine), consuming three doses on feeding days and one on fasting days. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, sarcopenic metrics, and blood markers (blood pressure, lipid panels, diabetic profiles) were measured.