title: Medium-Chain Triglycerides in Combination with Leucine and Vitamin D Increase Muscle Strength and Function in Frail Elderly Adults in a Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: Sarcopenia, the loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function, is common in elderly individuals but difficult to treat.
  
  
  
  A combination of nutrients was investigated to treat sarcopenia in very frail elderly adults.
  
  
  
  We enrolled 38 elderly nursing home residents (11 men and 27 women with a mean ± SD age of 86.6 ± 4.8 y) in a 3-mo randomized, controlled, single-blind, parallel group trial. The participants were randomly allocated to 3 groups. The first group received a daily l-leucine (1.2 g) and cholecalciferol (20 μg)-enriched supplement with 6 g medium-chain triglycerides (TGs) (MCTs) (LD + MCT); the second group received the same leucine and cholecalciferol-enriched supplement with 6 g long-chain TGs (LD + LCT); and the third group did not receive any supplements (control). The supplement and oils were taken at dinner, and changes in muscle mass, strength, and function were monitored.
  
  
  
  The increase in body weight in the LD + MCT (1.1 ± 1.0 kg) and LD + LCT (0.8 ± 1.1 kg) groups was greater than that in the control group (-0.5 ± 0.9 kg) (P < 0.05). After 3 mo, participants in the LD + MCT group had a 13.1% increase in right-hand grip strength (1.2 ± 1.0 kg, P < 0.01), a 12.5% increase in walking speed (0.078 ± 0.080 m/s, P < 0.05), a 68.2% increase in a 10-s leg open-and-close test performance (2.31 ± 1.68 n/10 s, P < 0.001), and a 28.2% increase in peak expiratory flow (53 ± 59 L/min, P < 0.01). No significant improvements in muscle mass, strength, or function were observed in the LD + LCT or control groups.
  
  
  
  The combined supplementation of MCTs (6 g), leucine-rich amino acids, and cholecalciferol at dinner may improve muscle strength and function in frail elderly individuals. This trial was registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry as UMIN000017567.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Life Sciences and Day Care SKY, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Sakiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Life Sciences and Institute of Women's Health Science, Showa Women's University, Tokyo, Japan; and ezaki@swu.ac.jp ezaki1952@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ezaki
authors.affiliation: Day Care SKY, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Motohisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D005684:Gait; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D007930:Leucine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D014815:Vitamins; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D007930:Leucine
keywords: MCT; cholecalciferol; elderly; essential amino acids; frailty; leucine; muscle atrophy; sarcopenia; vitamin D