Title : Investigating the combined effects of resistance training and dietary protein supplementation on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract:
Introduction & Objective: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic condition marked by impaired glucose metabolism and insulin resistance. Resistance training (RT) and dietary protein supplementation (DP) independently improve glycemic control, yet their combined effects remain unexplored. This study aimed to determine the impact of RT + DP on glycemic control and cardiometabolic outcomes in adults with T2DM.
Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, CINAHL/SportsDiscus, and Scopus was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving adults with T2DM who underwent RT + DP. Studies with RT-only controls were included. The primary outcome was glycemic control, measured by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Secondary outcomes included lipid profiles, body composition, renal function, and physical fitness metrics. Text screening and data extraction were conducted independently by two reviewers, with discrepancies resolved through consensus by a third reviewer. A random-effects model was used to compute standardized mean differences (SMD) for meta-analysis of pooled data sets. Heterogeneity and publication bias were also assessed.
Results: Ultimately, 3 RCTs with a combined total of 93 participants were included. For participants in the RT + DP group compared to participants in the RT-only control group, the SMD was -0.0811 for HbA1c (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.766 to 0.594; p = 0.805), 0.035 for change in lean mass (95% CI -0.372 to 0.442; p = 0.866), and 0.0948 for change in fat mass (95% CI -0.313 to 0.503; p = 0.649).
Conclusions: In adults with T2DM, the combination of RT + DP does not significantly decrease HbA1c or fat mass compared to RT alone. Additionally, lean mass does not significantly increase with addition of DP compared to RT alone. Continued research is needed to fully elucidate the combined effects of RT + DP in adults with T2DM.
