Effects of Combined Whole-Body Electromyostimulation and Protein Supplementation on Local and Overall Muscle/Fat Distribution in Older Men with Sarcopenic Obesity: The Randomized Controlled Franconia Sarcopenic Obesity (FranSO) Study

The primary aim of the project was to determine the combined effect of whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) and protein supplements on local and overall muscle/fat distribution in older man with sarcopenic obesity (SO). Community-dwelling (cdw) men ≥ 70 years with SO were randomly allocated to a WB-EMS and protein supplementation ( n = 33) or a non-intervention control group (CG: n = 34). WB-EMS was conducted 1.5 sessions of 20 min/week for 16 weeks. Whey protein supplementation aimed to ensure a daily intake of 1.8 g/kg body mass. The primary study endpoint was muscle/fat distribution of the total intra-fascial volume of the mid-thigh as determined by MRI. The core secondary endpoint was appendicular muscle mass (ASMM) and trunk fat; subordinate secondary endpoint was lower-leg performance. Thigh lean muscle volume increased significantly in the WB-EMS&P ( p