Effects Of Strength Training Alone Or With Amino Acids In Sarcopenic Obese Adults

Abstract

Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is characterized by a loss in muscle mass and an excess of body fat. Physical exercise and nutritional interventions may be useful strategies in SO management, but identification of treatment modalities aimed at improving SO is still lacking. PURPOSE: We investigated whether 5 months of strength training (ST) alone or combined with amino acids supplementation could give positive effects on body composition, physical performance and muscle strength in individuals affected by SO. METHODS: 22 men and women (66 ± 4 yy) affected by SO participated in a supervised ST (70-80% of 1-repetition maximum (1-RM)), 3 times/wk, 60 min-session and followed a controlled diet (caloric restriction). Participants were randomized into three double-blind groups with different dosages of oral amino acids: placebo (n = 9), low (4 g/day, n = 6) and high (8 g/day, n = 7) amount of amino acids. Before and after intervention, we examined: body composition with dual X-ray absorptiometry, physical performance with short physical performance battery (SPPB), muscle strength with a handgrip (HG) dynamometer and 1-RM at lat machine, chest and leg press. RESULTS: During intervention, adherence in ST was above 80% and did not differ between the three groups (p > 0.05). After intervention, BMI and total fat mass decreased in all groups (ranging from -1.2 to -5%, p < 0.001 and from -4.1 to -12%, p < 0.001). No changes were found in total and appendicular lean mass variations (p > 0.05). The score in SPPB showed no differences over time (p > 0.05), but the time performing chair stand decreased in all groups (ranging from -4 to -17%, p = 0.041). Regarding muscle strength, HG improved over time (ranging from 0.4 to 10%, p = 0.003) with an increase in 1-RM at lat machine (ranging from 24 to 29%, p < 0.001), chest press (ranging from 36 to 41%, p < 0.001) and leg press (ranging from 33 to 39%, p < 0.001). Statistical analysis resulted in no inter-group differences. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that in a SO population, 5 months of supervised ST combined with a diet may lead to beneficial effects in body composition and muscle strength of the upper and lower limbs. Amino acids supplementation seems to not provide further improvements in body composition, physical performance or muscle strength compared to combined ST and diet alone.