Inadequate weight loss activities may result in muscle mass loss, which is undesired.   A new study suggests that taking whey protein supplements or branched chain amino acids like valine, leucine and isoleucine supplements may help prevent muscle loss during a physical or dietary intervention intended to induce weight loss.

The study of 80 obese older adults showed a whey protein- leucine- and vitamin D- enriched supplement containing with other macro and micronutrients helped prevent muscle loss during a 13-week weight loss program.

http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/early/2014/11/26/ajcn.114.090290.short