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Objective: Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, is highly prevalent in older adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the combination of resistance training and multinutrients supplementation (including vitamin D and protein) on muscle mass and physical performance in frail older adults. Methods: This trial was conducted in Japanese frail older adults (n=77), which underwent a standardized protocol of a 3-month physical exercise intervention. The sample population was divided into two groups, according to the adoption (S/Ex: n = 38) or not (Ex: n = 39) of the additional multinutrient supplementation. The outcome measures of interest for the present analyses were the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and several physical performance tests. Results: Participants in S/Ex group had significant improvements for the outcome measures, including SMI and maximum walking time (P

Recent studies suggested that pedometer-based walking programs are applicable to older adults. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of pedometer in sedentary older adults to improve physical activity, fear of falling, physical performance, and leg muscle mass. Design: This was a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT). Setting and participants: Eighty-seven community dwelling sedentary older adults living in Japan. Intervention: The intervention group (n=43) received a pedometer-based behavioural change program for 6 months, while the control group (n=44) did not. The participants in the intervention group were instructed to increase their mean daily steps by 10% each month. Thus, at the end of 6 months, participants in the intervention group were expected to have 77 % more daily steps than their baseline step counts. Written activity logs were monthly averaged to determine whether the participants were achieving their goal. Measurements: Outcome measures were physical activity, fear of falling, physical performances, and leg muscle mass. Results: In this 6-month trial 40 older adults (93%) completed the pedometer protocol with good adherence. In the intervention group, average daily steps were increased by 83.4% (from 20311323 to 3726 1607) during the study period, but not in the control group (from 20471698 to 22671837). The pedometer-based behavioral change program was more effective to improve their physical activity, fear of falling, locomotive function, and leg muscle mass than control (P