Older adults with low muscle mass or function or sarcopenia

Ten trials (8.9%) include 52–200 older people with sarcopenia or reduced muscle mass or function. Although several studies merged definitions, sarcopenia is characterized by many diagnostic criteria, such as those of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia, the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2), or reduced muscle mass associated with poor muscular strength (HGS). Most clinical studies employ a variety of dietary supplements.

Older adults with malnutrition

One trial (0.9%) recruited 93 institutionalized older persons at risk of malnutrition or moderate malnutrition. Participants get a whey protein at lunch and a high-carbohydrate meal product at supper for 90 days. Muscular mass measurements using DXA are the primary outcome of interest, while muscle strength measurements using HGS and lower body strength tests are the secondary outcomes (using the 6MWT and TUG tests)(3).