title: Effect of Loquat Leaf Extract on Muscle Strength, Muscle Mass, and Muscle Function in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, and Placebo-Controlled Trial.
abstract: Ursolic acid (UA) is the major active component of the loquat leaf extract (LLE) and several previous studies have indicated that UA may have the ability to prevent skeletal muscle atrophy. Therefore, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study to investigate the effects of the LLE on muscle strength, muscle mass, muscle function, and metabolic markers in healthy adults; the safety of the compound was also evaluated. We examined the peak torque/body weight at 60°/s knee extension, handgrip strength, skeletal muscle mass, physical performance, and metabolic parameters at baseline, as well as after 4 and 12 weeks of intervention. Either 500 mg of LLE (50.94 mg of UA) or a placebo was administered to fifty-four healthy adults each day for 12 weeks; no differences in muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical performance were observed between the two groups. However, the right-handgrip strength of female subjects in the LLE group was found to be significantly better than that of subjects in the control group (P= 0.047). Further studies are required to determine the optimal dose and duration of LLE supplementation to confirm the first-stage study results for clinical application. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier is NCT02401113.
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Clinic, Obesity, Metabolism and Nutrition Center and Research Institute of Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Hye
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2176-6227
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Clinic, Obesity, Metabolism and Nutrition Center and Research Institute of Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea; Department of Medical Education, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Yeoup
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3585-9910
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Center for Anti-Aging Industry, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Informatics, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Cheol Min
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8453-5226
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Molecular Inflammation Research Center for Aging Intervention, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Nam Deuk
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9033-9865
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sangmin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Hyung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shin