Effects of a Buriti Supplement on Body Composition and Function in Older Adults

Effects of "Nutricer®" Vegan Protein Supplementation Based on Buriti (Mauritia Flexuosa), Rice, and Pea on Body Composition, Flexibility, Balance, and Dietary Frequency in Elderly Tai Chi Chuan Practitioners: A Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Aging is a natural process commonly associated with loss of muscle mass, reduced flexibility, and impaired balance, directly affecting the quality of life of older adults. Tai Chi Chuan, a traditional mind-body practice, has been shown to improve balance, flexibility, and overall well-being in elderly populations. In addition, nutritional supplementation may enhance these effects, particularly when based on plant-derived functional compounds.This study aims to evaluate the effects of vegan protein supplementation with Nutricer®-based on buriti (Mauritia flexuosa), rice, and pea-on body composition, muscle strength, flexibility, balance, and dietary frequency in elderly women practicing Tai Chi Chuan. This is a placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 40 elderly female participants, randomly assigned into two groups: an experimental group (n = 20), receiving Nutricer® supplementation, and a control group (n = 20), receiving a placebo (maltodextrin), both alongside regular Tai Chi Chuan practice.Buriti is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may contribute to the preservation of muscle and functional health. It is expected that the combination of vegan protein supplementation and Tai Chi Chuan practice will result in significant improvements in functional health, providing a natural, accessible, and safe strategy for healthy aging.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sarcopenia; Aging; Malnutrition Elderly
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Nutricer® Supplementation; Behavioral: Tai Chi Chuan program; Other: Maltodextrin (Placebo)

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Brazil
  • Minas Gerais
    • Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 39401002
      • State University of Minas Gerais

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female participants aged 60 years or older
• Participation in a Tai Chi Chuan program (at least twice per week, 60-minute sessions)
• Commitment to remain in the study throughout the intervention period (e.g., 12 weeks)
• Ability to understand and respond to questionnaires and perform the proposed physical tests
• Willingness to participate and provide written informed consent (Informed Consent Form)

Exclusion Criteria:

• • Current use of protein supplements, vitamins, or similar products to the study supplement

  • Medical contraindications to performing light to moderate physical exercise
  • Diseases or conditions that significantly impair mobility (e.g., severe stroke sequelae, advanced Parkinson's disease)
  • Moderate to severe cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia)
  • Irregular participation in Tai Chi Chuan sessions (absence greater than 20% during the intervention period)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental Group; Participants will receive vegan protein supplementation with Nutricer® (based on buriti, rice, and pea), in addition to regular Tai Chi Chuan practice.	Dietary supplement: Nutricer® Supplementation; Vegan protein supplement based on buriti (Mauritia flexuosa), rice and pea.; Behavioral: Tai Chi Chuan program; Participants will participate in a supervised Tai Chi Chuan program consisting of structured sessions led by a qualified instructor throughout the intervention period.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Comparator; Participants will receive a placebo (maltodextrin), in addition to regular Tai Chi Chuan practice	Behavioral: Tai Chi Chuan program; Participants will participate in a supervised Tai Chi Chuan program consisting of structured sessions led by a qualified instructor throughout the intervention period.; Other: Maltodextrin (Placebo); Placebo supplement (maltodextrin), administered daily during the study period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body weight (kg)	Body weight will be measured using a calibrated digital scale and recorded in kilograms (kg).	Baseline and week 12.
Lean body mass percentage (%)	Lean body mass percentage will be assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and expressed as a percentage of total body mass.	Baseline and week 12
Body fat percentage (%)	Body fat percentage will be assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and expressed as a percentage of total body mass.	Baseline and week 12.
Handgrip strength (kg)	Assessment of muscle strength using handgrip strength test with a digital dynamometer and recorded in kilograms (kg).	Baseline and week 12
Plasma glucose concentration (mg/dL)	Plasma glucose concentration (mg/dL) will be measured using an enzymatic colorimetric assay.	Baseline and Week 12
Percentage of plasma glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (%)	Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (%) will be measured in whole blood.	Baseline and Week 12
Plasma LDL cholesterol concentration (mg/dL)	Plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration (mg/dL) will be measured using an enzymatic colorimetric assay.	Baseline and week 12
Plasma HDL cholesterol concentration (mg/dL)	Plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration (mg/dL) will be measured using an enzymatic colorimetric assay.	Baseline and week 12
Plasma total cholesterol concentration (mg/dL)	Plasma total cholesterol concentration (mg/dL) will be measured using an enzymatic colorimetric assay.	Baseline and Week 12

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Functional balance assessed by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test	Functional balance will be assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Participants will be instructed to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn around, walk back, and sit down. The time required to complete the test will be recorded in seconds, with lower times indicating better functional mobility and balance performance.	Baseline and week 12
Flexibility assessed by the Sit-and-Reach test	Flexibility will be assessed using the sit-and-reach test. Participants will perform the test according to standardized procedures, and the maximum distance reached will be recorded in centimeters. Higher values indicate greater flexibility.	Baseline and week 12

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Federal University of Minas Gerais
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Sérgio H Santos, PhD, Federal University of Minas Gerais

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 16, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 16, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 21, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 2, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 31, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Postural Balance; Tai Chi Chuan; Flexibility; Elderly Health; Vegan Protein Supplementation; Buriti
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Muscular Atrophy; Atrophy; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Sarcopenia; maltodextrin
• Other Study ID Numbers: 7.662.055

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No