Effects of enteral nutrition and lactalbumin on muscle mass and function in the elderly

Abstract

Objective To explore the effect of calories supplement or protein supplement on the skeletal muscle in the elderly. Methods The ambulatory elderly (≥65 yrs) with reduced handgrip strength and/or gait speed were enrolled, who did not suffer from any neurological or arthritic disease impairing mobility, or any severe pulmonary or heart disease, or chronic kidney failure. The subjects were recruited with their written informed consent from clinical practices in five hospitals in China. The subjects were randomized to control group(n=26), nutrition supplementation (Nutren 400 kcal/d) group (n=27) or protein supplementation(Biopro Protein 20 g/d)group (n=21). All the subjects were given healthy lifestyle education. The physical performances i. e. gait speed and handgrip strength were measured at baseline and at 2 and 3 months of followed up. Lean soft tissue mass (muscle mass) was measured by BIA at baseline and at 3 months of follow-up. Results A total of 74 subjects completed the trial, including 26 in controls, 27 in Nutren, and 21 in protein group.At the end of the trial, the changes from baseline in appendicular muscle mass were -490.0 g (95%CI: -801.9--245.5, P=0.001)in control group, 90.0 g (95%CI: -346.8--442.0, P=0.241) in Nutren group, and -290.0 g (95%CI: -746.6-20.1, P=0.007) in protein group. There were no significant difference in above indices among the three groups (P=0.051), except between Nutren group and control group (P=0.020). The handgrip strength and gait speed in the three groups were improved obviously as compared with those at baseline, but not statistically significant between different groups. Conclusions Caloric supplementation group may have greater effect in maintaining muscle mass than the protein supplement group in the elderly. Both the caloric supplement and the protein supplement produce no additional effect on muscular function as compared with healthy lifestyle education. Key words: Sarcopenia; Nutrition; Protein