Effect of Low Intensity Exercise and Protein Intake on Skeletal Muscle Protein Synthesis in Elderly

January 5, 2015 updated by: Jakob Agergaard, Bispebjerg Hospital

Impact of Acute Low Intensity Exercise and Protein Intake on Skeletal Muscle Protein Synthesis in Elderly: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Maintenance of skeletal muscle mass is crucial during lifespan to retain health and functional autonomy. Sarcopenia, being the loss of muscle mass during aging, is a well-known phenomenon in the elderly and a major challenge viewed from an individual, and a socioeconomic point of view. Nevertheless, several studies have proved muscle tissue to be markedly affected by physical activity and nutritional interventions even at old age. Recently, a study in young individuals showed that an acute bout of easily tolerated low intensity exercise can prolong the muscle building effects of a milk protein intake compared to a non-exercised situation. Therefore, the major aim of the present project is to evaluate, whether a low intensity exercise regime in conjunction with milk protein supplementation can induce positive adaptations on parameters related to muscle size and function in elderly.

The study focuses on the acute muscle protein synthesis response to low intensity exercise and protein supplementation measured with stable isotope tracer techniques. It is hypothesized that light muscle activity can augment and prolong the effects of protein feeding.

If a light resistance exercise protocol as investigated in the present project can prove beneficial, elderly, frail elderly, and individuals undergoing rehabilitation can challenge sarcopenia in a new and tolerable way.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

30

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Denmark
      • Copenhagen, Denmark, DK-2400
        • Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

65 years and older (Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male
  • >65 year old
  • Healthy
  • BMI <28

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Smoker
  • Type II diabetic
  • Intake of medicine or supplements which will affect skeletal muscle protein synthesis
  • Alcohol intake >21 units/week.
  • Frequent exercise or hard physical labor

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Carbohydrate
Other: Exercise
Unilateral low intensity exercise
Active Comparator: Protein continous boluses
Other: Exercise
Unilateral low intensity exercise
Dietary supplement: Protein
Whey protein intake
Active Comparator: Protein 2 boluses
Other: Exercise
Unilateral low intensity exercise
Dietary supplement: Protein
Whey protein intake

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Skeletal muscle protein synthesis
Time Frame: 6 months
Measured as myofibrillar fractional synthetic rate (%/hour) in three periods pre intervention: 0-3 hours, 3-7 hours and 7-10 hours
6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Gene expression
Time Frame: 1.5 years
Through real time RT-PCR we measure the fold changes in gene expression of targets involved in skeletal muscle remodeling: myogenic factors, atrogenes, matrix related genes
1.5 years
Intracellular signaling
Time Frame: 1.5 years
Through Western Blotting we will measure changes in intracellular hypertrophy signaling. That is the activity of protein targets from the Akt-mTORC1 and Akt-FOXO pathways.
1.5 years
Amino acid transporter
Time Frame: 2 years
Through Western Blotting and RT-PCR protein and mRNA expression of amino acid transporters (LAT1, SNAT2, PAT1) are analyzed
2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Bispebjerg Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

July 1, 2012

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2013

Study Completion (Actual)

October 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 9, 2012

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 11, 2012

First Posted (Estimate)

July 13, 2012

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

January 6, 2015

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 5, 2015

Last Verified

January 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • BBH98

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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