Date of Defense

4-24-2026

Date of Graduation

5-2026

Department

Family and Consumer Sciences

First Advisor

Meghan Wilkinson

Second Advisor

Arezoo Rojhani

Abstract

Background: Post-menopausal middle-aged women are one of the least studied groups of people, especially in the world of dietetics. Advancing research is expanding now for protein supplementation and how it will affect the general population as they age. As interest in protein supplementation continues to grow, it’s potential role in improving muscle strength and function with aging warrants further investigation.

Objective: This study aims to examine the effects of dietary protein supplementation on muscle strength and functional outcomes in post-menopausal middle-aged women.

Methods: Through a Systematic Literature Review ten publications were identified through the PubMed with the key words of [“Dietary Fats” AND (Strength OR “Resistance Training”)]. The data extraction of this study was done methodically and slowly expanding over a long period of time. Data extraction was done through small sections, and each section was methodically screened using Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome (PICO) tables. This Literature Review was given a quality evaluation with a score of II or good. This was then used to create the proposed study. The thesis would be conducted over the course of one year with four different groups through a randomized longitudinal study. The control group would just follow a healthy diet. The second group would follow a strength training program with exercises with resistance bands and light weightlifting. The third group would be given supplementation of protein through diet, and the fourth group would follow the strength training and the protein supplementation. Healthy diet being defined as 45-65% of carbs, 25-35% of fat, and 0.8-1g/kg of body weight for protein. Strength training would include resistance bands and light weightlifting.

Expected Results: It is anticipated that all intervention groups would demonstrate improvements in muscle strength and function compared to the control group. With intervention group four showing the greatest number of gains due to synergistic effects of both the protein supplementation and strength training.

Conclusion: There is a direct connection between protein supplementation and how muscle strength and function drastically increase. More research needs to be done within a topic as a whole for both protein supplementation and this age group of women being studied as both are so new to the world of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics for long-term results and implications.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Restricted

Restricted to Campus until

6-4-2028

Download

Available for download on Saturday, June 03, 2028

Share

COinS