This study assessed musculoskeletal outcomes of a combined intervention comprising food-based protein supplementation, nutrition education (NE), and resistance exercise in older adults; comparing milk and soy milk as protein sources.

Quasi-experimental study.

Eighty-two community-dwelling adults aged ≥60 years completed the intervention.

This 8-week cluster-based intervention assigned participants to 1 of 4 groups: exercise alone (Group 1), exercise plus NE (Group 2), exercise plus NE with milk supplementation (Group 3), and exercise plus NE with soy milk supplementation (Group 4). All groups engaged in resistance training 3 times per week, and all groups received weekly NE, except for Group 1.

Body composition, and physical performance were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and standardized tests at baseline and after the intervention.

Within-group analyses showed that all groups experienced significant improvements in walking speed. Additionally, Group 3 exhibited improvements in handgrip strength (mean change: +4.41 kg), 5-time sit-to-stand performance (−1.94 s). Compared with other groups, Group 3 achieved greater gains in handgrip strength than Group 2 (−0.84 kg) and Group 4 (+0.52 kg), and showed a borderline significant improvement in total bone mineral density (BMD; +0.01 vs. −0.06 g/cm ² ) compared with Group 1. Furthermore, Groups 2 − 4 exhibited greater increases in upper-limb BMD (+0.04, +0.02, +0.01 g/cm ² , respectively) compared with Group 1 (−0.02 g/cm ² ).

Exercise combined with NE and protein supplementation, particularly milk, may be associated with favorable bone health in older adults.

(Clincaltrials.gov as NCT06173271)