Abstract
Our recent studies demonstrated that habitual exercise plus dietary supplementation with milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) improved endurance capacity and muscle function by stimulating neuromuscular development in mice. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of dietary MFGM supplementation plus habitual exercise on the physical performance of middle-aged Japanese adults in a pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Forty-four subjects (men, n = 22; women, n = 22) were randomly assigned into two groups: one received placebo tablets (placebo group, n = 22 [men, n = 11; women, n = 11]), while the other received MFGM tablets (MFGM group, n = 22 [men, n = 11; women, n = 11]). The subjects ingested either MFGM (1 g/day) or placebo (1 g/day of whole milk powder) tablets every day for the 10-week study period and engaged in an exercise training program twice per week. A physical function test was performed at baseline and at 5 and 10 weeks. A significant group-by-time interaction was found for the side step test, muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), and muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV). In the placebo group, there were no significant intragroup differences. In the MFGM group, side step score and muscle CSA were significantly greater at 10 weeks compared to the baseline, and MFCV was significantly higher than that in the placebo group at 10 weeks. The changes in percentage of the side step score, muscle CSA, and MFCV in the MFGM group were significantly higher than in the placebo group at 10 weeks. These results suggest that daily MFGM ingestion combined with regular exercise might enhance physical performance such as agility in middle-aged adults.
Highlights
Age-related muscle wasting and weakness are highly associated with adverse effects on quality of life and life expectancy in elderly people (Evans 1995)
The biological importance of milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) remains under study, we recently found that the combination of dietary supplementation with MFGM plus habitual exercise suppressed the aging-associated deterioration of muscle mass and strength via development of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the synapse of motor units, in senescenceaccelerated mice (Haramizu et al 2014a)
When the exercise program at moderate intensity for 10 weeks was combined with dietary supplementation of MFGM, the side step performance, which requires agility and coordination in the lower limbs, and the quadriceps muscles cross-sectional area (CSA) significantly increased even though there was no change in whole body composition (BMI)
Summary
Age-related muscle wasting and weakness are highly associated with adverse effects on quality of life and life expectancy in elderly people (Evans 1995). It is important to develop strategies to attenuate the decline in muscular mass and strength. Age-related decreases in thigh muscle mass begin in the fourth decade of life in healthy humans (Nair 2005). Campbell et al (1973) reported that the most important. Exercise has been a focus in the prevention of muscle atrophy. It has been confirmed that resistance training effectively prevents muscle wasting and weakness (Fiatarone et al 1990). There has been increased interest in nutritional supplementation for the prevention of muscle wasting.
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