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

Sarcopenia Clinical Trial

Official title:

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

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01640145
• Other study ID #: BBH98
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: July 9, 2012
• Last updated: January 5, 2015
• Start date: July 2012
• Est. completion date: October 2014

Study information

• Verified date: January 2015
• Source: Bispebjerg Hospital
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Denmark: The Danish National Committee on Biomedical Research Ethics
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 30
• Est. completion date: October 2014
• Est. primary completion date: January 2013
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Male
• Age group: 65 Years and older

Eligibility

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 Design

Allocation: Randomized, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Investigator), Primary Purpose: Prevention

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Protein Kinetics
• Sarcopenia
• Skeletal Muscle Protein Synthesis in Elderly

Intervention

Dietary Supplement:
• Protein
Whey protein intake

Other:
• Exercise
Unilateral low intensity exercise

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Denmark	Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen	Copenhagen

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Bispebjerg Hospital

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Denmark, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Skeletal muscle protein synthesis	Measured as myofibrillar fractional synthetic rate (%/hour) in three periods pre intervention: 0-3 hours, 3-7 hours and 7-10 hours	6 months	No
Secondary	Gene expression	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	No
Secondary	Intracellular signaling	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	No
Secondary	Amino acid transporter	Through Western Blotting and RT-PCR protein and mRNA expression of amino acid transporters (LAT1, SNAT2, PAT1) are analyzed	2 years	No