Evidence mapPaperPMID 41165951Full record

SynthesisAging clinical and experimental research2025

Effects of protein-based multinutrient therapy on sarcopenia in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Meiling Xie, Dan Yang, Qiaochu Zhu, Li Zhu, Qiuyu Zhong, Ruixin Gu, Dandan Xu

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Aging clinical and experimental research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
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

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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

7 authors.

Meiling Xie *College of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China.
Dan Yang *Department of Tuina and Rehabilitation Medicine, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, China. 1130164317@qq.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2252-6989
Qiaochu ZhuCollege of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China.
Li ZhuDepartment of Tuina and Rehabilitation Medicine, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, China.
Qiuyu ZhongDepartment of Tuina and Rehabilitation Medicine, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, China.
Ruixin GuDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan Fourth Hospital, Wuhan, 430033, China. 435368821@qq.com.
Dandan XuCollege of Acupuncture and Orthopedics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China. xudandan@hbhtcm.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-4700-8922

Funding

Hubei Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine No. ZY2025Q006Hubei Provincial Department of Science and Technology No. 2025AFD532
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSarcopenia is characterized by progressive loss of muscle strength, mass, and function, representing a major public health concern, particularly in aging populations. According to incomplete statistics, approximately 10-30% of older adults worldwide are affected by sarcopenia, this health issue has imposed substantial impacts on global public health systems and economic burdens. Due to the disease’s multifactorial pathogenesis, no targeted pharmacotherapies currently exist. Research indicates that nutritional intervention, as a complementary alternative therapy, promotes muscle protein synthesis and maintains musculoskeletal health. However, the efficacy of nutritional therapy remains controversial due to sarcopenia’s multifactorial etiology.

objectiveThis study systematically evaluates the therapeutic efficacy of protein-based multinutritional interventions for sarcopenia through a high-quality meta-analysis.

methodsWe systematically searched electronic databases from inception to January 6, 2025, including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, Ovid/MEDLINE, and ProQuest. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) meeting the inclusion criteria were subjected to meta-analysis using STATA 17.0 for statistical computations.

resultsA total of 10 studies involving 1,359 participants with intervention durations ranging from 12 to 48 weeks were included. The meta-analysis demonstrated significant improvements with nutritional therapy: handgrip strength (HGS) (MD = 0.33 kg, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.60), gait speed (GS) (MD = 0.15 m/s, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.28), and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) levels (MD = 0.49 ng/mL, 95% CI: 0.33 to 0.65). Compared to placebo, no statistically significant differences were observed for Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) (SMD = 0.06, 95% CI: -0.12 to 0.23), chair-stand time (MD = -0.15 s, 95% CI: -0.37 to 0.07), or Skeletal Muscle Index (SMI) (MD = 0.61 kg/m², 95% CI: -0.41 to 1.64).

conclusionsProtein-based multinutrient therapy significantly improved HGS, GS, and IGF-1 levels in patients with sarcopenia, but showed no significant effects on SPPB scores, chair-stand time, or SMI. The included studies were generally of high quality, and the results are relatively reliable, however, more high-quality RCTs are needed for further validation.

Indexed as

Dietary ProteinsNutrition TherapySarcopeniaAgedHand StrengthHumansInsulin-Like Growth Factor IMuscle StrengthRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicDietary ProteinsInsulin-Like Growth Factor IMeta-analysisMicronutrientsProteinSarcopeniaSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41165951
PMCPMC12575485

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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.