Abstract
Both regular exercise training and beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation are shown as effective treatments to delay or reverse frailty and reduce cognitive impairment in older people. However, there is very little evidence on the true benefits of combining both strategies. The aim of this meta-analysis was to quantify the effects of exercise in addition to HMB supplementation, on physical and cognitive health in older adults. Data from 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of HMB supplementation and physical function in adults aged 50 years or older were analyzed, involving 384 participants. Results showed that HMB supplementation in addition to physical exercise has no or fairly low impact in improving body composition, muscle strength, or physical performance in adults aged 50 to 80 years, compared to exercise alone. There is a gap of knowledge on the beneficial effects of HMB combined with exercise to preserve cognitive functions in aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Future RCTs are needed to refine treatment choices combining HMB and exercises for older people in particular populations, ages, and health status. Specifically, interventions in older adults aged 80 years or older, with cognitive impairment, frailty, or limited mobility are required.
Highlights
Evidence supports the fact that the combination of muscle strength training and protein supplementation stands as the most effective and easiest intervention to delay or reverse frailty in primary care [1,2] and emerges as a plausible treatment to reduce functional and cognitive impairment in older adults [3].There is increasing evidence that tailored multicomponent exercise programs benefit both physical and cognitive health in frail older people [4,5,6,7,8], to the extent that it is being considered mandatory for community-dwelling and institutionalized people [9]
The ethnicity of the subjects was not mentioned in any study
The results from this review with meta-analysis suggest that HMB supplementation in addition to physical exercise has no or fairly low impact in improving body composition, muscle strength, or physical performance in adults aged 50 to 80 years compared to exercise alone
Summary
Evidence supports the fact that the combination of muscle strength training and protein supplementation stands as the most effective and easiest intervention to delay or reverse frailty in primary care [1,2] and emerges as a plausible treatment to reduce functional and cognitive impairment in older adults [3].There is increasing evidence that tailored multicomponent exercise programs benefit both physical and cognitive health in frail older people [4,5,6,7,8], to the extent that it is being considered mandatory for community-dwelling and institutionalized people [9]. Evidence supports the fact that the combination of muscle strength training and protein supplementation stands as the most effective and easiest intervention to delay or reverse frailty in primary care [1,2] and emerges as a plausible treatment to reduce functional and cognitive impairment in older adults [3]. Physical inactivity in older adults represents a serious health risk as it contributes to the onset of muscle mass and function decline, which—sometimes irremediably—leads to frailty and derived short-term and mid-term diseases, hospitalization, disability, and death [11,12,13]. Physical inactivity appears to be associated with a higher risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or mild cognitive impairment [14].
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