Can what we eat help support muscle health in muscle wasting conditions?

12 May 2026

Research into finding effective treatments for muscle wasting conditions has generally focused on genetic therapies and new drug development. For now, medication, physiotherapy, and mobility equipment remain the main ways to help ease symptoms. But diet could represent another accessible and practical option for many people.

Why does nutrition matter?

For people living with a muscle wasting condition, maintaining muscle strength and function is important, but it can be challenging. Many people face significant nutritional barriers. Difficulties with chewing and swallowing, fatigue, and reduced mobility can make shopping, cooking and eating harder, with financial pressures or even limited access to wide ranges of food making these challenges even tougher.

Previous research has also shown that lower quality of life in adults with a muscle wasting condition can be linked to higher body mass index (BMI) – a measure of body weight to height used to gauge if someone is over or underweight – which can further affect daily activities. While physical activity is beneficial for muscle health, many people living with a muscle wasting condition find their symptoms limit what activities they can do safely. This makes other lifestyle factors, such as diet, particularly important to explore. Some early studies suggest certain nutrients (e.g. vitamins C and E, zinc and selenium) may support muscle strength in people with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).

How do our muscles work, and why does protein matter?

Our muscles are made from many different proteins that help them work properly. You can think of each protein as something the body builds by following a “recipe” stored in our DNA. This recipe is called a gene. Genes contain the instructions for the body to grow and function. If a recipe is changed the body may make a protein that does not work as it should or may not make the protein at all.

Some proteins, like actin and myosin, help muscles contract and relax so we can move. Others, including dystrophin, sarcoglycans and dystroglycans, provide structural support, helping to strengthen muscle cells and protect them from everyday wear and tear. Repair proteins like dysferlin help repair tiny tears that naturally happen during movement. When any of these proteins are missing or not working properly, muscles become fragile and break down more quickly.

Protein from food is broken down into amino acids – the building blocks muscles use to build and repair themselves. There are 20 amino acids the body uses, some of which can only come from food (they are called essential amino acids). Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are particularly important for muscle building as they help slow muscle breakdown. Foods rich in protein and BCAAs include lean meats, fish, dairy and plant foods such as beans and lentils.

When we eat protein, the body breaks it down into amino acids and uses these to repair and rebuild muscle tissue. In healthy adults without a muscle wasting condition, this process is usually well balanced, with new muscle proteins made after eating and older ones broken down between meals. But in muscle wasting conditions, the rate of muscle damage is higher and the body struggles to keep up.

While resistance type exercise helps build muscle, it may not be suitable or safe for many people living with a muscle wasting condition, making it even more important to get enough protein in your daily diet to support muscle repair and help slow muscle loss.

What the research shows

A recent study by Meg Leaver and team from Manchester Metropolitan University explored the relationship between diet and muscle health in 39 adults with conditions such as facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), limb girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMD) and 17 people who didn’t have a muscle wasting condition. The researchers monitored what participants were eating as part of their usual diet.

When comparing the two groups, those with a muscle wasting condition had less muscle and lower strength. This made everyday tasks harder and had an impact on their quality of life.

Importantly, the study found that adults with muscle wasting conditions generally ate less protein than people without them. Nearly a quarter (25%) of participants did not get enough of the recommended daily protein intake. The researchers also found that eating higher amounts of protein, particularly BCAAs, was linked to better muscle strength and function.

Beyond protein: the bigger nutritional picture

The study also found that many people, including those with a muscle wasting condition, may not be getting the right balance of nutrients in their diet. Some were eating too much saturated fat and not enough important nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin D, and healthy polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3), which help keep muscles healthy and protect the body.

People with muscle wasting conditions may eat enough or even too many calories but still not get enough protein. This can lead to gaining body fat while losing muscle, making movement and daily activities more difficult, which is why what we eat matters just as much as how much we eat. This highlights the importance of diet as part of overall care and support for people with muscle wasting conditions.

Potential benefits of introducing nutritional guidelines for muscle wasting conditions

Taken together, the findings suggest that people living with a muscle wasting condition may have nutritional needs that differ from those of the general population. Simple, tailored dietary guidance could help people get enough protein and key nutrients like vitamins C and D, and omega-3 fats, and may help support muscle health and quality of life.

More research is needed to give clear advice. However, small, everyday nutritional changes could make a meaningful difference in maintaining strength, independence and quality of life.