Light rhythmic exercise with dietary milk fat globule membrane improves physical fitness in an elderly Japanese population: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of home-based, light gymnastic exercise plus dietary milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) intake on physical fitness of an elderly Japanese sample in a pilot, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Seventy-one subjects (male, <italic>n</italic> = 13; female, <italic>n</italic> = 58) were randomly assigned into two groups: placebo (<italic>n</italic> = 35 [male, <italic>n</italic> = 6; female, <italic>n</italic> = 29]) and MFGM group (<italic>n</italic> = 36 [male, <italic>n</italic> = 7; female, <italic>n</italic> = 29]). The intervention was eight weeks. Subjects ingested either MFGM (1 g/day) or placebo tablets daily and engaged in an exercise program daily. Physical function tests were performed at baseline and after four and eight weeks. Foot tapping and open-close stepping scores significantly increased from baseline to eight weeks in the MFGM group. Study results suggest daily MFGM ingestion might further enhance the effects of light-intensity exercise in healthy elderly people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]