Objectives: Sarcopenia is the decline of muscle mass and strength with age. Evidence suggests that inflammation play important roles in age-related muscle atrophy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 3 months resistance training on skeletal muscle mass and C-reactive protein levels in elderly men.

Methods & Materials: In this quasi – experimental study with pretest–posttest design, twenty-five middle-age men (age: 64.10±3.40 yr, body mass index: 28.29±2.38 kg/m 2) were randomly assigned to resistance training (n=13) and control (n=12) groups. Resistance training program was performed 50-60 min/d, 3d/wk, for 3 months. Serum C-reactive protein levels and body composition (DEXA) were measured before and after the intervention.

Results: After resistance training, leg press (lower body strength index), bench press (upper body strength index), and skeletal muscle mass were significantly increased (P<0.05), whereas, body fat indices (e.g. body mass index and fat mass) did not change in response to resistance training (P>0.05). Concurrently, C-reactive protein levels were significantly decreased in training group (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Three months resistance training caused an improvement in muscle mass and strength in elderly men, and this improvement were accompanied by decreases in C-reactive protein serum levels.