The efficacy of essential amino acid supplementation for augmenting dietary protein intake in older adults: implications for skeletal muscle mass, strength and function.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review without systematic search methodology or quantitative synthesis
PubMed 33315000 · doi:10.1017/S0029665120008010
What was done
This narrative review evaluated evidence on essential amino acid (EAA) supplementation, particularly formulations enriched with L-leucine, as an intervention to augment dietary protein intake and support skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function in older adults with undernutrition or sarcopenia.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data, effect sizes, or statistical metrics. It describes qualitative findings that EAA supplements are non-satiating, can enhance the anabolic response of meals containing suboptimal protein amounts, and show magnified effects when combined with resistance exercise training.
Why it matters
EAA supplementation provides a practical nutritional strategy to stimulate muscle protein synthesis in older adults who cannot meet daily protein targets through whole foods due to age-related appetite decline.
Limits
As a narrative review, it lacks a systematic search methodology, risk-of-bias assessment, or pooled meta-analytic figures in the abstract. Long-term compliance, palatability, and hard clinical endpoints remain important unquantified variables.
Cited by
- context Essential amino acid supplementation reduces cravings without reducing overall appetite or subsequent food intake later in the day.