title: Effects and feasibility of exercise therapy combined with branched-chain amino acid supplementation on muscle strengthening in frail and pre-frail elderly people requiring long-term care: a crossover trial.
abstract: This study examined the effects and feasibility of a twice-weekly combined therapy of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and exercise on physical function improvement in frail and pre-frail elderly people requiring long-term care. We used a crossover design in which the combination of exercise and nutritional interventions was carried out twice a week during cycles A (3 months) and B (3 months) and the exercise intervention alone was performed during the washout period. The exercise intervention entailed the following 5 training sets: 3 sets of muscle training at 30% of maximum voluntary contraction, 1 set of aerobic exercise, and 1 set of balance training. For the nutritional intervention, 6 g of BCAAs or 6 g of maltodextrin was consumed 10 min before starting the exercise. We determined upper and lower limb isometric strength, performance on the Functional Reach Test (FRT) and the Timed Up and Go test, and activity level. In the comparison between the BCAA group and the control group after crossover, the improvement rates in gross lower limb muscle strength (leg press, knee extension) and FRT performance were significantly greater (by approximately 10%) in the BCAA group. In the comparison between different orders of BCAA administration, significant effects were shown for the leg press in both groups only when BCAAs were given. The combination of BCAA intake and exercise therapy yielded significant improvements in gross lower limb muscle strength and dynamic balance ability.
authors.affiliation: a Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan.|b Rehab-care Shonan Kamakura, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.affiliation: c Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Clinical Center for Sports Medicine & Sports Dentistry, Japan.
authors.forename: Junya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.affiliation: d Kanagawa University of Human Services, Department of Rehabilitation, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.affiliation: e Kanagawa University of Human Services, Department of Nutrition, Japan.
authors.forename: Ikuko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gomi
authors.affiliation: b Rehab-care Shonan Kamakura, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kugota
authors.affiliation: b Rehab-care Shonan Kamakura, Japan.
authors.forename: Keigo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nanjo
authors.affiliation: f Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School, Department of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jinno
authors.affiliation: g Fukushima University, Faculty of Symbiotic Systems Science, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.affiliation: a Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Sadao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morita
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain
keywords: aging; amino acid supplementation; combined therapy; exercice contre résistance de faible intensité; low-intensity resistance exercise; outpatient rehabilitation; réadaptation en consultation externe; supplémentation en acides aminés; traitement combiné; vieillissement