Background Risk of sarcopenia and poor nutritional status are observed in older adults receiving home care. Hence, the aim of the POWER trial is to investigate the effectiveness of a whey protein oral nutritional supplement (ONS) combined with an online resistance training (RT) programme compared to RT alone on physical function, nutritional status and health-related outcomes in community-dwelling older adults receiving supportive home care who are at risk of sarcopenia. Methods This home-based, randomised controlled trial will include older adults aged ≥70 years, receiving supportive home care (professional and/or informal), who will be screened for sarcopenia via telephone. Forty-six participants will be randomised into either (i) ONS + RT or (ii) RT only trial arms. Participants in the ONS + RT group will be provided with a whey protein ONS enriched with leucine and vitamin D to consume day daily for 12 weeks. All participants will be provided with an online RT programme twice weekly via Zoom. The primary outcomes are physical function, measured using the Timed Up and Go test and nutritional status, measured using the Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Full Form. Secondary outcomes include body composition, dietary intake, gait speed, muscle strength, cognitive function, depression risk, activities of daily living, quality of life and feasibility of intervention implementation. All outcomes will be measured at baseline (T1), post-intervention (T2) and 12 weeks post-intervention (T3). Conclusion This study will provide data on the effectiveness of a whey protein ONS enriched with leucine and vitamin D combined with an online RT programme delivered via Zoom, compared to the RT programme alone, for older adults at risk of sarcopenia and receiving supportive home care. If effective, this combined approach could act as an important strategy to support maintenance of physical function and nutritional status in older adults, for whom home-based interventions are likely a more feasible option. Trial registration NCT05688956 ; registered December 2022.
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