Leucine, whey protein and vitamin D for sarcopenia
What it found
In people with sarcopenia, a supplement containing leucine, whey protein and vitamin D increased arm and leg muscle mass.
It improved grip strength and physical performance only when people also did exercise.
What they found
Studies in people
Muscle mass
Appendicular muscle mass improved more in the supplement group than in the control group, both with and without exercise. The improvement was larger when exercise was also done.
Grip strength with exercise
When a physical exercise programme was combined with the supplement, handgrip strength improved significantly compared to the control group.
Grip strength without exercise
When no exercise programme was combined with the supplement, there was no significant improvement in handgrip strength.
Physical performance with exercise
Short physical performance battery scores improved significantly when exercise was combined with the supplement.
Physical performance without exercise
Without exercise, short physical performance battery scores showed no significant improvement.
Overall without exercise
When exercise was not considered, the supplement made no significant difference to grip strength or short physical performance battery scores.
What the authors conclude
“Whey protein, leucine, and vitamin D supplementation can increase appendicular muscle mass in patients with sarcopenia.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that whey protein, leucine and vitamin D supplementation can increase appendicular muscle mass in patients with sarcopenia.
- They advise that combining a physical exercise programme with the supplement can improve muscle strength and function.
- They recommend that clinicians should consider recommending whey protein, leucine and vitamin D supplementation with physical exercise to their sarcopenic patients.
How it was done
Sarcopenia is an age-related loss of muscle mass and strength that makes daily activities harder. The authors wanted to see whether a supplement with whey protein, leucine and vitamin D helps, since earlier studies had conflicting results.
They pooled three randomised controlled trials with 637 patients who had sarcopenia. The trials lasted 4 to 13 weeks and compared the supplement with an isocaloric product, with or without an exercise programme.
What it can’t tell you
- Only three studies were included, so the results may change as more research is done.
- The studies used a supplement containing whey protein, leucine and vitamin D together, so this review cannot show what leucine alone does.
- The studies lasted 4 to 13 weeks, so they cannot show what happens over a longer time.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- Yeungnam University, Republic of Korea
The paper
- Title
- Effects of Whey Protein, Leucine, and Vitamin D Supplementation in Patients with Sarcopenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Type
- Systematic review and meta-analysisThe authors follow a set, published method to find every relevant study, then combine the numbers from them into one result.
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Chang MC, Choo YJ (2023). Effects of Whey Protein, Leucine, and Vitamin D Supplementation in Patients with Sarcopenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu15030521Free full textPubMed 36771225DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error