A 4-week caloric restriction with high volume resistance-training and high-protein diet does not increase fat-free mass sparing but increases strength.

Samir Nait-Yahia, Mikael F Kanaan, Noémie Beauregard, Merissa Jade Anderton, Andrea Duval, Éric Doucet

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial

In one paragraph

Trial report in European journal of clinical nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Samir Nait-YahiaSchool of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Mikael F KanaanSchool of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Noémie BeauregardSchool of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Merissa Jade AndertonSchool of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Andrea DuvalSchool of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Éric DoucetSchool of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. edoucet@uottawa.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2821-3206

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAthletes employ weight loss protocols to lower fat mass (FM) and maintain fat-free mass (FFM) for performance purposes. High volume resistance-training (HVRT) has been associated with greater increases in FFM than low volume resistance-training (LVRT). However, less is known about the effects of HVRT under caloric restriction (CR). Therefore, it remains unclear whether HVRT could elicit greater retention of FFM and improvements in strength during CR.

objectivesDetermine the effects of HVRT and high protein intake on FFM and strength in resistance- trained individuals after a 40% CR.

methodsSixteen resistance-trained individuals underwent a high-protein (2.3 g/kg body mass (BM)), 4- week 40% CR with a 5-day/week resistance-training intervention. Participants were randomly assigned to LVRT (12 sets/muscle group/week) or HVRT (30 sets/muscle group/week). Pre-post intervention testing included dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, indirect calorimetry, dietary records, resistance-training records, 5RM strength testing, and nitrogen balance.

resultsSignificant reductions in BM (Δ -4.2 ± 0.5 kg, p < 0.001), FM (Δ -3.7 ± 0.4 kg, p < 0.001), and %FM (Δ -3.5 ± 0.4%, p < 0.001) were observed, but changes were not different between groups. No intervention or group by intervention effects were noted for FFM. HVRT produced greater increases for 5RM testing for chest press (p = 0.005), right leg press (p = 0.003), and left leg press (p < 0.001).

conclusionHVRT does not seem to further enhance FFM retention during a 40% CR. Albeit, greater increases in strength were noted in HVRT, but mechanisms underlying such improvements remain to be investigated.

Indexed as

Body CompositionCaloric RestrictionDietary ProteinsDiet, High-ProteinMuscle StrengthResistance TrainingAbsorptiometry, PhotonAdipose TissueAdultFemaleHumansMaleMuscle, SkeletalWeight LossYoung AdultDietary Proteins

Identifiers

PMID42103927

DOI10.1038/s41430-026-01757-8

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.