Devries · Journal of food science 2015 · narrative review · n=?

Supplemental protein in support of muscle mass and health: advantage whey.

Cited 329 times in the scientific literature.

Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data

Narrative review without systematic search methodology

PubMed 25757896 · doi:10.1111/1750-3841.12802 · record verified 2026-08-29

What was done

This narrative review synthesized existing literature on the role of supplemental dietary protein, with a focus on whey protein, in modulating skeletal muscle mass and body composition during resistance training, caloric restriction, and aging.

What was found

The abstract reports no numerical data or effect sizes. It qualitatively describes that higher-protein intakes support muscle mass gains alongside resistance training, mitigate muscle loss during calorie deficits, and reduce age-related sarcopenia, with whey protein stimulating muscle protein synthesis to a greater extent than casein or soy.

Why it matters

It outlines the physiological basis of protein quality, highlighting how rapid digestion and high leucine content make whey protein an effective source for supporting muscle protein synthesis.

Limits

The abstract contains no quantitative metrics, sample sizes, or study counts. As a narrative review rather than a systematic review, it lacks formal study selection criteria, risk-of-bias assessment, and pooled effect estimates.

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