Combined Nutrition with Exercise: Fueling the Fight Against Sarcopenia Through a Bibliometric Analysis and Review

Figures & data

Table 1 Top 5 Authors on Nutrition Combined Exercise Training Research for Sarcopenia in Terms of the Number of Published Articles

Rank	Author	Publications	H index	Country	TC
1	Luc J C van Loon	45	89	Netherlands	27,835
2	Stuart Phillips	44	95	Canada	31,971
3	Emanuele Marzetti	37	66	Italy	15,452
4	Landi Francesco	31	88	Italy	42,497
5	Riccardo Calvani	26	51	Roma	8965

Abbreviations: H-index, Hirsch index; TC, Total Citations.

Table 2 Basic Characteristics of RCTs on Exercise Combined with Nutrition in Population with Features of Sarcopenia in Recent Years

Author	Population	Intervention	Duration	Main Outcomes
				Muscle Mass	Muscle Strength	Muscle Function
Aas^Citation71	Mobility-limited older people	HI-RT plus protein	10 weeks	+	+	+
Bastone^Citation72	Older people with low handgrip strength	RT plus protein	12 weeks	-	+	+
Kemmler(a)^Citation73	Osteosarcopenia	HI-RT plus protein	72 weeks	+	+	-
Kemmler(b)^Citation74	Osteosarcopenia	HI-RT plus protein	12 months	+	+	NR
Li^Citation75	Sarcopenia	RT plus whey protein, vitamin D3, etc.	12 weeks	+	+	NR
Lichtenberg^Citation76	Osteosarcopenia	HI-RT plus protein	28 weeks	+	+	NR
Mafi^Citation77	Sarcopenia	RT plus epicatechin	8 weeks	+	NR	+
Vikberg^Citation78	Pre-sarcopenia	RT plus protein, etc.	10 weeks	NR	NR	+
Yamada^Citation79	Sarcopenia	RT plus whey protein and vitamin D	12 weeks	+	+	+

Notes: The symbols “+” and “-” respectively indicate a significant improvement or no significant change in outcome compared to the control group (P<0.05). The abbreviation “NR” indicates that the outcome was not referred in the study, while “HI” and “RT” refer to high intensity and resistance training, respectively.

Figure 1 Flow chart of the retrieval strategy.

Figure 2 Analysis of contribution and cooperation. (A) Chord diagram of the national publications and cooperation; (B) Cooperation network map between institutions; (C) Cooperation network map between authors.

Figure 3 Analysis of keywords on nutrition combined exercise training for sarcopenia. (A) The word cloud of top 50 keyword; (B) Network visualization of keywords and clusters; (C) Timeline visualization of keywords and clusters.

Figure 4 Top 20 keywords with the strongest citation bursts on nutrition combined exercise training research works on sarcopenia.

Notes: The bar graph displays commonly cited keywords in red and less frequently cited keywords in green. A greater strength represents a higher frequency of citation.

Figure 5 Risk of bias summary displaying the evaluations of each item for 9 RCTs included.

Aas S, Seynnes O, Benestad H, Raastad T. Strength training and protein supplementation improve muscle mass, strength, and function in mobility-limited older adults: a randomized controlled trial. AGING Clin Exp Res. 2020;32(4):605–616. doi:10.1007/s40520-019-01234-2

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Bastone A, Nobre L, Moreira B, et al. Independent and combined effect of home -based progressive resistance training and nutritional supplementation on muscle strength, muscle mass and physical function in dynapenic older adults with low protein intake: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2020:89. doi:10.1016/j.archger.2020.104098

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Kemmler W, Kohl M, Fröhlich M, et al. Effects of High-Intensity Resistance Training on Osteopenia and Sarcopenia Parameters in Older Men with Osteosarcopenia-One-Year Results of the Randomized Controlled Franconian Osteopenia and Sarcopenia Trial (FrOST). J BONE Miner Res. 2020;35(9):1634–1644. doi:10.1002/jbmr.4027

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Kemmler W, Kohl M, Jakob F, Engelke K, von Stengel S. Effects of High Intensity Dynamic Resistance Exercise and Whey Protein Supplements on Osteosarcopenia in Older Men with Low Bone and Muscle Mass. Final Results of the Randomized Controlled FrOST Study. NUTRIENTS. 2020;12(8). doi:10.3390/nu12082341

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Li Z, Cui M, Yu K, et al. Effects of nutrition supplementation and physical exercise on muscle mass, muscle strength and fat mass among sarcopenic elderly: a randomized controlled trial. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2021;46(5):494–500. doi:10.1139/apnm-2020-0643

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Lichtenberg T, von Stengel S, Sieber C, Kemmler W. The Favorable Effects of a High-Intensity Resistance Training on Sarcopenia in Older Community-Dwelling Men with Osteosarcopenia: the Randomized Controlled FrOST Study. Clin Interv AGING. 2019;14:2173–2186. doi:10.2147/CIA.S225618

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Mafi F, Biglari S, Afousi A, Gaeini A. Improvement in Skeletal Muscle Strength and Plasma Levels of Follistatin and Myostatin Induced by an 8-Week Resistance Training and Epicatechin Supplementation in Sarcopenic Older Adults. J AGING Phys Act. 2019;27(3):384–391. doi:10.1123/japa.2017-0389

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Vikberg S, Sörlén N, Brandén L, et al. Effects of Resistance Training on Functional Strength and Muscle Mass in 70-Year-Old Individuals With Pre-sarcopenia: a Randomized Controlled Trial. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2019;20(1):28–34. doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2018.09.011

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Yamada M, Kimura Y, Ishiyama D, et al. Synergistic effect of bodyweight resistance exercise and protein supplementation on skeletal muscle in sarcopenic or dynapenic older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2019;19(5):429–437. doi:10.1111/ggi.13643

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