A Five-Ingredient Nutritional Supplement and Home-Based Resistance Exercise Improve Lean Mass and Strength in Free-Living Elderly

Old age is associated with lower physical activity levels, suboptimal protein intake, and desensitization to anabolic stimuli, predisposing for age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia). Although resistance exercise (RE) and protein supplementation partially protect against sarcopenia under controlled conditions, the efficacy of home-based, unsupervised RE (HBRE) and multi-ingredient supplementation (MIS) is largely unknown. In this randomized, placebo-controlled and double-blind trial, we examined the effects of HBRE/MIS on muscle mass, strength, and function in free-living, older men. Thirty-two sedentary men underwent twelve weeks of home-based resistance band training (3 d/week), in combination with daily intake of a novel five-nutrient supplement (&lsquo
Muscle5&rsquo
M5, n = 16, 77.4 &plusmn
2.8 y) containing whey, micellar casein, creatine, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids, or an isocaloric/isonitrogenous placebo (PLA
n = 16, 74.4 &plusmn
1.3 y), containing collagen and sunflower oil. Appendicular and total lean mass (ASM
+3%, TLM
+2%), lean mass to fat ratios (ASM/% body fat
+6%, TLM/% body fat
+5%), maximal strength (grip
+8%, leg press
+17%), and function (5-Times Sit-to-Stand time
&minus
9%) were significantly improved in the M5 group following HBRE/MIS therapy (pre vs. post tests
p &lt
0.05). Fast-twitch muscle fiber cross-sectional areas of the quadriceps muscle were also significantly increased in the M5 group post intervention (Type IIa
+30.9%, Type IIx, +28.5%, p &lt
0.05). Sub-group analysis indicated even greater gains in total lean mass in sarcopenic individuals following HBRE/MIS therapy (TLM
+1.65 kg/+3.4%, p &lt
0.05). We conclude that the Muscle5 supplement is a safe, well-tolerated, and effective complement to low-intensity, home-based resistance exercise and improves lean mass, strength, and overall muscle quality in old age.