Exercise and nutritional supplementation in community-dwelling older persons with frailty and sarcopenic obesity

Abstract

　Frailty and sarcopenia are a term commonly used to describe the condition of an older people who has chronic health problems, has lost functional abilities and are likely to deteriorate further. Exercise and nutritional supplementation has been a focus in the treatment of frailty and sarcopenia, as research has shown that it is beneficial for the enhancement of skeletal muscle mass and strength, and can improve muscle function, physical activity participants and functional ability in frail and sarcopenia older adults.

　The results of frailty study showed that physical frailty reversal rate was significantly higher in the exercise＋nutrition （57.6％） than in the nutrition （28.1％） or placebo （30.3％） groups at post-intervention （χ²＝8.827, p＝0.032）, and at the follow-up was also significantly greater in the exercise＋nutriton （45.5％） and exercise＋placebo （39.4％） groups compared with the placebo （15.2％） group （χ²＝8.607, p＝0.035）. In sarcopenic obesity trial confirmed that the exercise＋nutrition intervention significantly decreased total body fat mass （p＝0.036）, and increased stride （p＝0.038） and vitamin D （p<0.001） compared to the control group. And, significant odds of the exercise＋nutrition intervention improving walking speed （OR 3.05, 95％ CI 1.01-9.19）, vitamin D （OR 14.22, 95％ CI 1.64-123.02） and leptin （OR 3.86, 95％ CI 1.19-12.47） were also observed.

　While exercise alone or nutritional supplementation alone effects on individual variables of frailty status, physical function, and body composition in community-dwelling elderly women, the combination of exercise and nutrition may be more effective in reversing frailty, improving physical function, and decreasing body fat mass.