Muscle up, oldies told

PROTEIN-BASED drinks similar to those used by gymgoers can build muscle strength and fight age-related muscle loss, new research shows.

Scientists in Canada gave 49 men aged over 70 either a drink that contained whey protein and vitamin D, or a placebo.

The participants had the drink once daily for six weeks without exercising, then for three months while also doing interval training twice a week.

Those in the protein drink group gained more muscle mass – roughly as much as they would usually have lost over a year – even before exercising.