Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40165996›Full record

ReviewDrug design, development and therapy2025

Therapeutics for Sarcopenia and Functional Disabilities in Older Adults: A Review of Phase 4 Clinical Trials.

Nasser M Alorfi, Fahad S Alshehri, Ahmed M Ashour

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Drug design, development and therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Nasser M AlorfiPharmacology and Toxicology Department, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0002-0636-7685
Fahad S AlshehriPharmacology and Toxicology Department, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0001-6966-0128
Ahmed M AshourPharmacology and Toxicology Department, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0002-2118-0499

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Sarcopenia significantly contributes to physical disability and reduced quality of life in older adults, leading to disability. Therapeutics used to manage sarcopenia can improve not only muscle health but also the overall functional capacity of individuals at risk of developing disabilities. This review focuses on the therapeutic interventions evaluated in phase 4 clinical trials to address sarcopenia and its associated disabilities in older adults. Objective: To review and summarize the therapeutic agents tested in phase 4 clinical trials for the management of sarcopenia and their potential impact on reducing functional disabilities in older adults. Methods: A review of phase 4 clinical trials was conducted on 6 Results: Several therapeutic agents, including whey protein powder, eldecalcitol, testosterone enanthate, and Denosumab, have been tested in Phase 4 trials for their ability to enhance muscle mass and function in older adults with sarcopenia. Allopurinol and Pioglitazone were also studied for their potential to improve muscle metabolism, while Medrol (Methylprednisolone) and Levothyroxine offered supportive effects in inflammatory and metabolic disorders that exacerbate muscle loss. Moreover, combination therapies, such as nutritional supplementation with HMB and vitamin D, showed promise in improving muscle function. These interventions demonstrated varying degrees of efficacy in improving muscle strength, reducing physical disability, and enhancing overall functional capacity in older adults. Conclusion: Therapeutic strategies targeting sarcopenia in older adults have the potential to reduce functional disabilities and improve quality of life. Phase 4 clinical trials provide valuable insights into the long-term safety and effectiveness of these treatments. Continued research and refinement of these therapies are essential to fully address the disabling effects of sarcopenia and promote healthy aging.

Indexed as

SarcopeniaAgedHumansPersons with DisabilitiesQuality of Lifeagingdisabilitygeriatricmuscles losssarcopeniatherapeutics

Identifiers

PMID40165996
PMCPMC11956726

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.