Enhanced protein intake on maintaining muscle mass, strength, and physical function in adults with overweight/obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

5 Repeated evidence

How much this weighs: several studies in people, combined — the strongest kind of evidence there is.

Type of study: meta-analysis or systematic review
Studied in: people
Participants: 3,218
Published: 2024 in Clinical nutrition ESPEN
Cited: 21 times by other research
Who paid: Not declared. PubMed carries no conflict-of-interest statement for most articles; that is not the same as independent.
Source: PubMed 39002131 · doi 10.1016/j.clnesp.2024.06.030

The plain-language write-up of this study is still being written. Below is the abstract exactly as the researchers published it.

Abstract by the researchers — original text

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Weight loss in individuals with obesity and overweight leads to metabolic and health benefits but also poses the risk of muscle mass reduction. This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials aims to determine the initial protein amount necessary for achieving weight loss while maintaining muscle mass, strength, and physical function in adults with overweight and obesity. METHODS: Relevant literature databases, including Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline), Excerpta Medica (Embase), the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINHAL), and Web of Science, were electronically searched up to 15 March 2023. We examined the effect of additional protein intake on muscle mass, strength, and physical function in adults with overweight or obesity targeting weight loss. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool. Results were synthesized using standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) via a random-effects model. RESULTS: Forty-seven studies (n = 3218) were included. In the muscle mass analysis, twenty-eight trials with 1989 participants were encompassed. Results indicated that increased protein intake significantly prevents muscle mass decline in adults with overweight or obesity aiming for weight loss (SMD 0.75; 95% CI 0.41 to 1.10; p < 0.001). Enhanced protein intake did not significantly prevent decreases in muscle strength and physical function. An intake exceeding 1.3 g/kg/day is anticipated to increase muscle mass, while an intake below 1.0 g/kg/day is associated with a higher risk of muscle mass decline. The risk of bias in studies regarding muscle mass ranged from low to high. CONCLUSIONS: Adults with overweight or obesity and aim for weight loss can more effectively retain muscle mass through higher protein intake, as opposed to no protein intake enhancement.