Effects of dairy product intake and home-based resistance exercise on the physical function in Japanese community-dwelling older adults: results of a real-world randomized controlled trial
6 affiliations
- 1Faculty of Human Sciences, Shimane University, 1060 Nishikawatsu, Matsue, Shimane, 690-8504, Japan. [email protected].
- 2Division of Preventive Medicine, Clinical Research Institute for Endocrine and Metabolic Disease, National Hospital Organization, Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan.
- 3Department of Cellular and Molecular Function Analysis, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Ishikawa, Kanazawa, Japan.
- 4Faculty of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Okayama Prefectural University, 111 Kuboki, Soja, Okayama, 719-1197, Japan.
- 5Department of Agriculture, Ryukoku University, 1-5 Yokotani, Seta Oe-cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2194, Japan.
- 6Faculty of Human Sciences, Shimane University, 1060 Nishikawatsu, Matsue, Shimane, 690-8504, Japan.
Abstract
Purpose Although the combination of dairy product intake and resistance training has shown benefits for muscle health in older adults, most intervention studies have been conducted under highly controlled conditions, limiting their applicability to real-world settings. Methods We conducted a 12-week pragmatic, open-label randomized controlled trial involving community-dwelling Japanese older adults. Fifty-four adults aged ≥ 65 years were assigned to either a dairy product intake plus home-based resistance training group (milk and exercise; ME) or a home-based resistance training only group (E). The dairy intervention targeted an increase equivalent to approximately 10–15 g of dairy-derived protein per day within habitual meals. Both groups were instructed to perform home-based resistance training at least three days per week. The physical function, including upper and lower limb strength, handgrip strength, gait speed, and body composition, was assessed before and after the intervention. Exploratory subgroup analyses were conducted according to baseline dairy consumption and skeletal muscle mass. Results Fifty-one participants (mean age, 78.2 ± 6.9 years; BMI, 22.9 ± 3.2 kg/m²) completed the study (retention rate: 94.4%). Adherence to milk supplement consumption was exceptionally high (median 7.00 times/week, IQR 7.00–7.00 times/week). The median frequencies of milk and dairy product intakes were 6.83 (IQR 5.60–7.00) and 6.83 (IQR 6.17–6.94) times/week, respectively. Resistance exercise adherence was comparable between the ME and E groups (3.13 [2.81–3.65] vs. 3.25 [2.71–3.96] times/week; p = 0.940). No significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of muscle strength, physical function, or body composition. However, some functional outcomes improved over time in both groups. In exploratory subgroup analyses, participants with lower habitual dairy consumption at baseline showed improvements in upper and lower limb strength only in the ME group. Conclusions Adding modest dairy product intake to home-based resistance training did not provide additional overall benefits compared to exercise alone. However, exploratory findings suggest that baseline dairy consumption may influence the responsiveness of older adults to combined nutrition and exercise interventions. Trial registration Registration number UMIN000052127 Date of registration 2023/09/08 URL https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000059497.
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BibTeX
@article{miyazaki2026effects,
title = {{Effects of dairy product intake and home-based resistance exercise on the physical function in Japanese community-dwelling older adults: results of a real-world randomized controlled trial}},
author = {Ryo Miyazaki and Naoki Sakane and Hitoshi Ando and Makoto Ayabe and Hirokazu Taniguchi and Masayuki Yamasaki},
journal = {BMC Geriatrics},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12877-026-08061-x},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-026-08061-x},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of dairy product intake and home-based resistance exercise on the physical function in Japanese community-dwelling older adults: results of a real-world randomized controlled trial
AU - Ryo Miyazaki
AU - Naoki Sakane
AU - Hitoshi Ando
AU - Makoto Ayabe
AU - Hirokazu Taniguchi
AU - Masayuki Yamasaki
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/01
JO - BMC Geriatrics
DO - 10.1186/s12877-026-08061-x
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-026-08061-x
AB - Purpose Although the combination of dairy product intake and resistance training has shown benefits for muscle health in older adults, most intervention studies have been conducted under highly controlled conditions, limiting their applicability to real-world settings. Methods We conducted a 12-week pragmatic, open-label randomized controlled trial involving community-dwelling Japanese older adults. Fifty-four adults aged ≥ 65 years were assigned to either a dairy product intake plus home-based resistance training group (milk and exercise; ME) or a home-based resistance training only group (E). The dairy intervention targeted an increase equivalent to approximately 10–15 g of dairy-derived protein per day within habitual meals. Both groups were instructed to perform home-based resistance training at least three days per week. The physical function, including upper and lower limb strength, handgrip strength, gait speed, and body composition, was assessed before and after the intervention. Exploratory subgroup analyses were conducted according to baseline dairy consumption and skeletal muscle mass. Results Fifty-one participants (mean age, 78.2 ± 6.9 years; BMI, 22.9 ± 3.2 kg/m²) completed the study (retention rate: 94.4%). Adherence to milk supplement consumption was exceptionally high (median 7.00 times/week, IQR 7.00–7.00 times/week). The median frequencies of milk and dairy product intakes were 6.83 (IQR 5.60–7.00) and 6.83 (IQR 6.17–6.94) times/week, respectively. Resistance exercise adherence was comparable between the ME and E groups (3.13 [2.81–3.65] vs. 3.25 [2.71–3.96] times/week; p = 0.940). No significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of muscle strength, physical function, or body composition. However, some functional outcomes improved over time in both groups. In exploratory subgroup analyses, participants with lower habitual dairy consumption at baseline showed improvements in upper and lower limb strength only in the ME group. Conclusions Adding modest dairy product intake to home-based resistance training did not provide additional overall benefits compared to exercise alone. However, exploratory findings suggest that baseline dairy consumption may influence the responsiveness of older adults to combined nutrition and exercise interventions. Trial registration Registration number UMIN000052127 Date of registration 2023/09/08 URL https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000059497.
SN - 1471-2318
ER -