Effects of Leucine Administration in Sarcopenia: A Randomized and Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial
Treating sarcopenia in older individuals remains a challenge, and nutritional interventions present promising approaches in individuals that perform limited physical exercise. We assessed the efficacy of leucine administration to evaluate whether the regular intake of this essential amino acid can i...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/4/932 |
| _version_ | 1797626444000526336 |
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| author | Francisco M. Martínez-Arnau Rosa Fonfría-Vivas Cristina Buigues Yolanda Castillo Pilar Molina Aldert J. Hoogland Femke van Doesburg Leo Pruimboom Julio Fernández-Garrido Omar Cauli |
| author_facet | Francisco M. Martínez-Arnau Rosa Fonfría-Vivas Cristina Buigues Yolanda Castillo Pilar Molina Aldert J. Hoogland Femke van Doesburg Leo Pruimboom Julio Fernández-Garrido Omar Cauli |
| author_sort | Francisco M. Martínez-Arnau |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Treating sarcopenia in older individuals remains a challenge, and nutritional interventions present promising approaches in individuals that perform limited physical exercise. We assessed the efficacy of leucine administration to evaluate whether the regular intake of this essential amino acid can improve muscle mass, muscle strength and functional performance and respiratory muscle function in institutionalized older individuals. The study was a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind design in fifty participants aged 65 and over (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03831399). The participants were randomized to a parallel group intervention of 13 weeks’ duration with a daily intake of leucine (6 g/day) or placebo (lactose, 6 g/day). The primary outcome was to study the effect on sarcopenia and respiratory muscle function. The secondary outcomes were changes in the geriatric evaluation scales, such as cognitive function, functional impairment and nutritional assessments. We also evaluated whether leucine administration alters blood analytical parameters and inflammatory markers. Administration of leucine was well-tolerated and significantly improves some criteria of sarcopenia in elderly individuals such as functional performance measured by walking time (<i>p</i> = 0.011), and improved lean mass index. For respiratory muscle function, the leucine-treated group improved significantly (<i>p</i> = 0.026) in maximum static expiratory force compared to the placebo. No significant effects on functional impairment, cognitive function or nutritional assessment, inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-alpha were observed after leucine administration compared to the placebo. The use of l-leucine supplementation can have some beneficial effects on sarcopenia and could be considered for the treatment of sarcopenia in older individuals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:10:28Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:10:28Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-034b77c600cc4ce8981fdbe406df4de52023-11-16T14:30:01ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432020-03-0112493210.3390/nu12040932Effects of Leucine Administration in Sarcopenia: A Randomized and Placebo-controlled Clinical TrialFrancisco M. Martínez-Arnau0Rosa Fonfría-Vivas1Cristina Buigues2Yolanda Castillo3Pilar Molina4Aldert J. Hoogland5Femke van Doesburg6Leo Pruimboom7Julio Fernández-Garrido8Omar Cauli9Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainFrailty and Cognitive Impairment Research Group (FROG), University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainFrailty and Cognitive Impairment Research Group (FROG), University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainLa Saleta, Armonea Group, 46015 Valencia, SpainLa Saleta, Armonea Group, 46015 Valencia, SpainNatura Foundation, 3281 NC Numansdorp, The NetherlandsNatura Foundation, 3281 NC Numansdorp, The NetherlandsUniversity of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), 9712 CP Groningen, The NetherlandsFrailty and Cognitive Impairment Research Group (FROG), University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainFrailty and Cognitive Impairment Research Group (FROG), University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainTreating sarcopenia in older individuals remains a challenge, and nutritional interventions present promising approaches in individuals that perform limited physical exercise. We assessed the efficacy of leucine administration to evaluate whether the regular intake of this essential amino acid can improve muscle mass, muscle strength and functional performance and respiratory muscle function in institutionalized older individuals. The study was a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind design in fifty participants aged 65 and over (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03831399). The participants were randomized to a parallel group intervention of 13 weeks’ duration with a daily intake of leucine (6 g/day) or placebo (lactose, 6 g/day). The primary outcome was to study the effect on sarcopenia and respiratory muscle function. The secondary outcomes were changes in the geriatric evaluation scales, such as cognitive function, functional impairment and nutritional assessments. We also evaluated whether leucine administration alters blood analytical parameters and inflammatory markers. Administration of leucine was well-tolerated and significantly improves some criteria of sarcopenia in elderly individuals such as functional performance measured by walking time (<i>p</i> = 0.011), and improved lean mass index. For respiratory muscle function, the leucine-treated group improved significantly (<i>p</i> = 0.026) in maximum static expiratory force compared to the placebo. No significant effects on functional impairment, cognitive function or nutritional assessment, inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-alpha were observed after leucine administration compared to the placebo. The use of l-leucine supplementation can have some beneficial effects on sarcopenia and could be considered for the treatment of sarcopenia in older individuals.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/4/932respiratory musclessarcopeniamuscle massmuscle strengthelderlynutrition |
| spellingShingle | Francisco M. Martínez-Arnau Rosa Fonfría-Vivas Cristina Buigues Yolanda Castillo Pilar Molina Aldert J. Hoogland Femke van Doesburg Leo Pruimboom Julio Fernández-Garrido Omar Cauli Effects of Leucine Administration in Sarcopenia: A Randomized and Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial Nutrients respiratory muscles sarcopenia muscle mass muscle strength elderly nutrition |
| title | Effects of Leucine Administration in Sarcopenia: A Randomized and Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial |
| title_full | Effects of Leucine Administration in Sarcopenia: A Randomized and Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Leucine Administration in Sarcopenia: A Randomized and Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Leucine Administration in Sarcopenia: A Randomized and Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial |
| title_short | Effects of Leucine Administration in Sarcopenia: A Randomized and Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial |
| title_sort | effects of leucine administration in sarcopenia a randomized and placebo controlled clinical trial |
| topic | respiratory muscles sarcopenia muscle mass muscle strength elderly nutrition |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/4/932 |
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