An interventional study of Resistance exercise and Standardized diet in Sarcopenia, Skeletal Muscle Atrophy and Protein Malnutrition, sponsored by Maastricht University Medical Center. Completed at 1 site in Netherlands. Open to participants aged 60 Years to 80 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-12-18.
Sponsored by Maastricht University Medical Center · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
Background Protein intake is important for skeletal muscle mass maintenance with aging and the ingestion of specifically-timed protein supplements could increase overall protein intake and thereby contribute to skeletal muscle mass maintenance. Recently, more attention has been given to the ingestion of plant-based protein blends as a more sustainable high-quality alternative to milk protein, as a means to increase muscle protein build-up and, as such, support muscle maintenance, especially when consuming suboptimal amounts of protein in the regular diet.
Objective To assess the benefit of daily protein supplementation with either a plant-based protein blend or a milk protein on top of a standard diet to stimulate integrated muscle protein synthesis rates in healthy older individuals with and without exercise.
Hypotheses It is hypothesized that both the plant protein blend and the milk protein supplement will result in greater muscle protein build-up when compared with a standard diet control condition.
It is also hypothesized that exercise will result in greater muscle protein build-up when compared to the resting leg in all conditions, with similar effects of the protein supplements vs the control diet as in the non-exercised leg.
This study will show the potential benefit of protein supplementation with alternative protein sources to support skeletal muscle maintenance in older individuals.
1,208 studies on the registry are indexed under Sarcopenia; 402 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 51 is below the median of 60 across 775 interventional studies indexed under Sarcopenia.
Browse Sarcopenia studies →Maastricht University Medical Center is the lead sponsor of 835 studies on the registry; 122 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
daily 2 x 20g maltodextrin ingestion
Behavioral: Resistance exercise · Behavioral: Standardized diet · Dietary Supplement: Maltodextrin supplement
daily 2 x 20g milk protein ingestion
Behavioral: Resistance exercise · Behavioral: Standardized diet · Dietary Supplement: Milk protein supplement
daily 2 x 20g plant protein blend ingestion
Behavioral: Resistance exercise · Behavioral: Standardized diet · Dietary Supplement: Plant protein supplement
4 single-leg exercise sessions
Also known as: Strength exercise, Resistance training
Fully standardized provided energy-balanced diet providing recommended daily allowance for protein.
Dissolved in water with breakfast and prior to sleep.
Dissolved in water with breakfast and prior to sleep.
Dissolved in water with breakfast and prior to sleep.
Integrated muscle protein synthesis rates in the non-exercised leg.
Calculated by the changein deuterium labelled alanine in skeletal muscle protein
Time frame: 10 days
Integrated muscle protein synthesis rates in the exercised leg.
Calculated by the change in deuterium labelled alanine in skeletal muscle protein
Time frame: 10 days
Dietary protein intake
Assessed by calculating the actual intakes from the provided diet
Time frame: 10 days
Dietary fat intake
Assessed by calculating the actual intakes from the provided diet
Time frame: 10 days
Dietary carbohydrate intake
Assessed by calculating the actual intakes from the provided diet
Time frame: 10 days
Step count
Assessed using a accelerometer
Time frame: 10 days
Muscle Crosssectional are
Assessed using Ultrasound
Time frame: 10 days
Age (year)
Interview question
Time frame: At baseline
Body mass (kg)
Assessed using scale
Time frame: At baseline
Height (m)
Assessed using stadiometer
Time frame: At baseline
Body fat %
Assessed using Dexa scan
Time frame: At baseline
Lean body mass (kg)
Assessed using Dexa scan
Time frame: At baseline
Appendicular lean mass (kg)
Assessed using Dexa scan
Time frame: At baseline
Sex
Biological sex checked using interview
Time frame: At baseline
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Automated measurement
Time frame: At baseline
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is completed, as verified in Dec 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Maastricht University Medical Center