The Physical Fitness Cohort Study in the Community-dwelling Elderly in the WanHwa Area.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,National Taiwan University Hosptial,Bei-Hu Brance and National Taiwan University College of Medicine,Taipei,Taiwan

The aims of this study are to establish the cohort of elder population based on parameters of health-related fitness, body compositions, blood biochemistry, blood biomarker, balance, quality of life, and musculoskeletal ultrasonography; and to evaluate the association between fitness parameters and disease incidence with those data.

The aims of this study are to establish the cohort of elder population based on parameters of health-related fitness, body compositions, blood biochemistry, blood biomarker, balance, quality of life, and musculoskeletal ultrasonography and to evaluate the association between fitness parameters and disease incidence with these data. We expect to recruit 1200 adults who attend the annual health check-up in National Taiwan University, BeiHu Branch in 2016 and 2017 and to train 60 individuals having sarcopenia with strengthening exercise. This study will establish the urban elderly cohort, measure both physical and functional parameters, find the risk factors for aging, and validate the role of strength training for those sarcopenia patients. We hope this study will be widely cited in related fields in the future.

The investigators invited around 60 persons with sarcopenia by telephone to attend the study and randomly assigned them to group A and B (around 30 persons in each). Group A first accepted exercise and nutrition intervention and then was given the education course. Group B was treated in the reversed order.

Participants and investigator don't know which group the participants are assigned to before randomization.

Enrolled participants with sarcopenia will be randomized to receive either strengthening exercise and nutrition or education courses (DVD and handbook) first and then will receive the opposite intervention subsequently. The study will consist of two periods of 12 weeks separated by a washout period of 2 weeks. It's the AB/BA study. Subjects in the AB arm receive exercise and nutrition intervention first, followed by the education course.

Enrolled participants with sarcopenia will be randomized to receive either strengthening exercise and nutrition or education courses (DVD and handbook) first and then will receive the opposite intervention subsequently. The study will consist of two periods of 12 weeks separated by a washout period of 2 weeks. It's the AB/BA study. Subjects in the BA arm receive the education course first, followed by exercise and nutrition.

Exercise:muscle strengthening exercise Nutrition: 7.2 g branched chain amino acid every day and 1200 mg Ca+800 IU Vitamin D3

Change from skeletal muscle mass,grip and pace between the baseline, 1st follow-up (12 weeks) and 2nd follow-up (26 weeks) after the whole intervention process

Skeletal muscle mass,grip and pace were assessed the baseline, 1st follow-up (12 weeks) and 2nd follow-up (26 weeks) after the whole intervention process

At the baseline, 1st follow-up (12 weeks) and 2nd follow-up (26 weeks) after the whole intervention process

Change from telomere's length at the baseline, 1st follow-up (12 weeks) and 2nd follow-up (26 weeks) after the whole intervention process

The investigators want to measure the change of telomere's length at the baseline and , either at 1st follow-up (12 weeks) or 2nd follow-up (26 weeks) after the whole intervention process

At the baseline, either at 1st follow-up (12 weeks) or 2nd follow-up (26 weeks) after the whole intervention process

Change of Terra RNA, physical fitness and other components of body compositions at the baseline, either at 1st follow-up (12 weeks) or 2nd follow-up (26 weeks) after the whole intervention process

The investigators want to measure the correlation of Terra RNA with physical fitness and other components of body compositions.

at the baseline, either at 1st follow-up (12 weeks) or 2nd follow-up (26 weeks) after the whole intervention process

the difference of ECV at the baseline, 1st follow-up (12 weeks) and 2nd follow-up (26 weeks) after the whole intervention process

The investigators want to measure the difference of ECV at the baseline, either at 1st follow-up (12 weeks) or 2nd follow-up (26 weeks) after the whole intervention process

At the baseline, either at 1st follow-up (12 weeks) or 2nd follow-up (26 weeks) after the whole intervention process

Inclusion criteria: The investigators are ready to find out the individuals aged above 65 years and having sarcopenia. The 60 individuals must be evaluated their physical fitness in advance. The investigators plan to perform exercise and nutrition intervention for the individuals. Exclusion criteria: Patients with heart rhythm, atrial fibrillation, ventricular bigeminy, infections, tumors, and blood disease,etc. Individuals has lived in nursing home or long-term care institutions. Individuals cannot stand steadily. 4 Individuals cannot fill the questionnaires by his own.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital BeiHu Brance,Taipei

Chang KV, Wu WT, Huang KC, Han DS. Effectiveness of early versus delayed exercise and nutritional intervention on segmental body composition of sarcopenic elders - A randomized controlled trial. Clin Nutr. 2021 Mar;40(3):1052-1059. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2020.06.037. Epub 2020 Jul 14.