# Neither pre-sleep nor post-exercise protein consumption influences resistance exercise training adaptations in older adults

## TL;DR

This study found that taking protein either before sleep or after exercise does not improve muscle growth or strength in older adults doing resistance training, as long as they already eat enough protein.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence that protein timing (pre-sleep or post-exercise) does not enhance resistance training outcomes in older adults with sufficient baseline protein intake.

## Key findings

- All groups showed significant increases in muscle thickness and strength after 12 weeks of resistance training.
- No differences were observed between the protein timing groups and the resistance training-only group.
- Adequate baseline protein intake appears more important than protein timing for training outcomes in older adults.

## Abstract

Limited data exists that compare pre-sleep versus post-exercise protein intake during resistance exercise training (RET) in older adults. This study examined whether 40 g of protein consumed post-exercise (PRP) or pre-sleep (PSP) enhances muscle thickness (MT) and strength compared to RET alone (RETO) in older men.

Thirty untrained older men (65.7 ± 4.0 yrs) completed 12 weeks of supervised RET (2×/week) and were randomized to PRP (n = 9), PSP (n = 11), or RETO (n = 10). MT of the vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF), and vastus intermedius (VI) and 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) for leg and chest press were assessed at weeks 0, 6, and 12.

VL (0 to 12 weeks: + 0.16 cm, 95% C.I. [0.06, 0.25]), RF (0 to 12 weeks: + 0.13 cm, 95% C.I. [0.03, 0.23]), and VI MT (0 to 12 weeks: + 0.18 cm, 95% C.I. [0.05, 0.31]) and chest press (0 to 12 weeks: + 10.9 kg, 95% C.I. [5.50, 16.3]) and leg press (0 to 12 weeks: + 28.3 kg, 95% C.I. [19.63, 37.1]) 1-RM increased (p < 0.050) with no group differences.

Consuming 40 g of protein post-exercise or pre-sleep did not enhance RET-induced improvements in muscle thickness or strength in older adults with adequate baseline protein intake (≥1.0 g/kg/day). RET alone elicited significant gains, emphasizing that adherence to training and meeting daily protein requirements are more critical than timing strategies for untrained older adults. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05922475, 06/23/2023, retrospectively registered.