Clinical Trial to Compare Pre-Sleep vs. Post-Exercise Protein for Muscle and Cognition in Older Adults

As individuals age, they often experience sarcopenia, a progressive loss of muscle mass, strength, and function, which significantly impacts quality of life and increases frailty risk. Adequate protein intake is crucial for stimulating muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and mitigating age-related muscle decline. However, the optimal timing of protein consumption relative to exercise or sleep remains a debated topic, particularly in older adults who may have blunted MPS responses. Current guidelines often recommend post-exercise protein, but pre-sleep protein could leverage overnight anabolic windows. This trial aims to clarify the most effective timing strategy.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial will enroll an estimated 14 older adults into one of three groups. All participants will complete the same 12-week resistance exercise training program, performed two times per week. The intervention groups will consume 40 g of protein either immediately post-exercise or 30 minutes prior to sleep. The control group will receive no supplemental protein. Researchers will measure muscle growth, strength, and cognitive performance before, during, and after the 12-week program to determine the effects of protein timing.

As this is a clinical trial protocol, no findings are available yet. The study is currently active but not recruiting, with an estimated completion date of September 2025. The primary outcomes will focus on comparing changes in muscle growth and strength, as well as cognitive performance, between the three groups. Researchers hypothesize that specific protein timing, either pre-sleep or post-exercise, will yield superior outcomes compared to no supplementation, and potentially reveal differences between the two timing strategies. The study aims to provide quantitative data on these physiological and cognitive endpoints.