1Director and Fitness Consultant, Zadgaonkars’ Fitness Center, Nagpur-440 002, Maharashtra, India
*Corresponding Author: Umesh Zadgaonkar, Director and Fitness Consultant, Zadgaonkars’ Fitness Center, Nagpur-440 002, Maharashtra, India, Email: umesh.zadgaonkar@gmail.com
Online Published on 10 March, 2026.
Characterized by the progressive loss of muscle mass and function with aging, poses significant health challenges in geriatric populations. Evidence suggests resistance training and nutritional supplementation improve muscle strength and function, but the combined effects, particularly with dairy-based supplements, remain inadequately explored.
A randomized controlled trial involving 120 participants aged 65 and older was conducted. Participants were divided into three groups: Resistance training only (RT), combined resistance training and dairy supplementation (RT+DS) and a control group. The RT and RT+DS groups underwent 12 weeks of supervised resistance training, with the RT+DS group receiving a daily dairy-based nutritional supplement.
Key outcomes included handgrip strength, lean body mass and functional performance assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). The RT+DS group demonstrated the greatest improvements, with a 22% increase in handgrip strength, a 3.8% rise in lean body mass and an 18% enhancement in SPPB scores. The RT group showed respective improvements of 15%, 2.5% and 11%, while the control group exhibited no significant changes. Combining resistance training with dairy-based nutritional supplementation significantly enhances muscle strength, body composition and functional performance in older adults. These findings highlight the potential of integrated interventions to counteract sarcopenia and promote healthier aging.
Dairy supplementation, Functional performance, Geriatric health, Muscle strength, Resistance training, Sarcopenia
