Influence of Strength Training and Protein Supplementation on Fitness of Institutionalized Elderly

Influence of Strength Training and Nutritional Supplementation on Physical Performance and Well-being of Older People in Pensioner Homes

The aim of this randomized, observer-blind, controlled intervention study with parallel groups is to study the effect of strength training (2x/week for 6 months) with and without additional dietary supplementation (protein-enriched) on muscle strength, function and mass, oxidative stress parameters and the immune system in elderly institutionalized persons.

The participants (n = 120) are recruited from Viennese senior residencies (Kuratorium Wiener Pensionistenwohnheime). After a pre-participation screening participants will be distributed randomly but stratified by sex and age to one of the 3 intervention groups (cognitive training, strength training, strength training + supplement).

Study participants are eligible if they are male or female with an age over 65 years and if their cognitive status as well as their physical fitness level allows to participate at the strength training sessions. Exclusion criteria comprise chronic diseases which contraindicate the medical training therapy, serious cardiovascular disease, diabetic retinopathy and manifest osteoporosis, medication with anticoagulants or cortisone drugs and also regular strength training during the last six months.

Primary outcome measure is the change in isokinetic torque of knee extensors. Secondary outcome measures comprise anthropometric data, functional performance tests, immunological and oxidative stress parameters. The change in muscle signaling pathways will be assessed from muscle biopsies.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Aging
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Cognitive Training; Behavioral: Strength Training; Dietary supplement: FortiFit

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 120
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Michael Quittan, Prim. Univ.Prof. Dr.; Phone Number: 3401 +43160191; Email: michael.quittan@wienkav.at
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Barbara Wessner, Ass.-Prof. DI Dr.; Phone Number: 28772 +4314277; Email: barbara.wessner@univie.ac.at

Study Locations

• Austria
  • Vienna, Austria, 1150
    • Recruiting
    • University of Vienna, Centre of Sports Science and University Sports
    • Contact: Barbara Wessner, Ass.-Prof. DI Dr.; Phone Number: 28772 +4314277; Email: barbara.wessner@univie.ac.at
    • Principal Investigator: Barbara Wessner, Ass.-Prof. DI Dr.

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 65 years and older (Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adequate mental condition in order to follow the instructions and to perform the resistance exercise independently (Mini-Mental-State >23)
• Ability to walk 10 meters independently (without orthopaedic devices)
• 4 or more points at the Short Physical Performance Battery

Exclusion Criteria:

• Chronic diseases, which contraindicate a medical training therapy
• Serious cardiovascular diseases (congestive chronic heart failure, severe or symptomatic aortic stenosis, unstable angina pectoris, untreated arterial hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias)
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Manifest osteoporosis
• Regular use of cortisone-containing drugs
• Regular strength training (> 1x / week) in the last 6 months before inclusion

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Sham Comparator: Cognitive Training; Cognitive Training (riddles, skill games, ...) is performed twice a week in small groups	Behavioral: Cognitive Training
Experimental: Strength Training; Progressive strength training is applied, meaning that the intensity is adjusted continuously in order to obtain a sufficient training stimulus. Exercises are chosen to involve the major muscle groups and are performed by using the own body weight or elastic bands.	Behavioral: Strength Training
Experimental: Strength Training and Supplement; In addition to strength training as described above, participants receive a water-soluble dietary supplement 9x/week (FortiFit, Nutricia) consisting of 20.7 g of protein (56 En%, 19.7 g whey protein, 3 g leucine,> 10 g essential amino acids), 9.3 g carbohydrates (25 En%, 0.8 BE), 3.0 g fat (18 En%), 1.2 g fiber (2 En%), 800 IU (20μg) of vitamin D, 250mg calcium, vitamins B6 and B12, folic acid and magnesium.	Behavioral: Strength Training; Dietary supplement: FortiFit

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
change from baseline in isokinetic torque of knee extensors	baseline and 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
change from baseline in 6min walking test	baseline and 6 months
change from baseline in handgrip strength	baseline and 6 months
change from baseline in single leg balance stand	baseline and 6 months
change from baseline in lean body mass	baseline and 6 months
change from baseline in muscular myostatin expression	baseline and 6 months
change from baseline in DNA strand breaks	baseline and 6 months
change from baseline in high-sensitive C reactive protein	baseline and 6 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
change from baseline in isokinetic torque of knee extensors at 12 months	baseline and 12 months
change from baseline in isokinetic torque of knee extensors at 18 months	baseline and 18 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Vienna
• Collaborators: Kaiser Franz Josef Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Barbara Wessner, Ass.-Prof. DI Dr., University of Vienna

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Franzke B, Schober-Halper B, Hofmann M, Oesen S, Tosevska A, Henriksen T, Poulsen HE, Strasser EM, Wessner B, Wagner KH. Age and the effect of exercise, nutrition and cognitive training on oxidative stress - The Vienna Active Aging Study (VAAS), a randomized controlled trial. Free Radic Biol Med. 2018 Jun;121:69-77. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.04.565. Epub 2018 Apr 24.
• Tosevska A, Franzke B, Hofmann M, Vierheilig I, Schober-Halper B, Oesen S, Neubauer O, Wessner B, Wagner KH. Circulating cell-free DNA, telomere length and bilirubin in the Vienna Active Ageing Study: exploratory analysis of a randomized, controlled trial. Sci Rep. 2016 Dec 1;6:38084. doi: 10.1038/srep38084.
• Grimpampi E, Oesen S, Halper B, Hofmann M, Wessner B, Mazza C. Reliability of gait variability assessment in older individuals during a six-minute walk test. J Biomech. 2015 Nov 26;48(15):4185-4189. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2015.10.008. Epub 2015 Oct 20.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 21, 2013
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 21, 2013
• First Posted (Estimate): January 24, 2013

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): January 24, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 21, 2013
• Last Verified: January 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: strength training; sarcopenia; protein supplementation
• Other Study ID Numbers: ActiveAgeing