Effects of nutritional intervention combined with exercise therapy on the prevention of the sarcopenia of elders in the community

Abstract

Objective To discuss the effects of nutritional intervention combined with exercise therapy on the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia for aged in the community. Methods We selected 114 patients with sarcopenia from outpatient elderly patients in the health service center of street community in Xihu district of Hangzhou from April 2014 to October 2015. 114 patients with sarcopenia were randomly divided into three groups (health education group, health education and full nutrition formula powder group, health education and whey protein group) by using method of digital drawing in male and female separately. Before the intervention, patients in three groups were investigated in following aspects: basic data, self health evaluation, living habits, functional status. After 100 days of intervention, body mass index (BMI) , grip strength, walking speed, five times sit experiment, rate of human muscle, body fat rate were compared among three groups. Results Before the intervention, there was no difference in the basic data, self health evaluation, living habits, functional status of patients in three groups (P>0.05) . After 100 days of group intervention, health education group had significant difference in BMI (t=-4.46; P<0.01) , walking speed and body fat rate (t=-2.55, -2.48; P<0.05) compared with the data before intervention; health education and full nutrition formula powder group had significant difference in BMI, grip strength, walking speed and body fat rate (t=-6.58, -7.34, -4.15, -3.13; P<0.01) , which had statistical significance in five times′ sit experiment (t=-3.06, P<0.05) ; Health education and whey protein group had significant difference in BMI, grip strength, walking speed and five times′ sit experiment (t=-3.39, -8.49, -8.20, 5.40; P<0.01) , which had statistical significance in calf circumference and rate of human muscle (t=-2.45, -2.63; P<0.05; ) . Conclusions On the basis of nutritional intervention methods combined with exercise therapy, adding full nutrition formula powder or whey protein can improve the BMI, grip strength and walking speed of aged patients with sarcopenia. The combination of nutrition and exercise intervention is beneficial to prevent and control the sarcopenia. Key words: Aged; Sarcopenia; Nutritional intervention; Exercise