Effects of Polyphenol Supplementation and Exercise on Physical Performance in Older Adults

Description

Life expectancy in Canada continues to rise, and by 2068 more than one-quarter of the population will be over the age of 65 years. Although Canadians are living longer, added years are not necessarily lived in good health. Aging is associated with increased sedentary behaviour, reduced physical performance, higher prevalence of chronic disease, and greater healthcare use. Sedentary behaviour, physical inactivity, and poor dietary habits accelerate age-related functional decline and contribute to chronic low-grade inflammation, a key driver of frailty, disability, and loss of independence in older adults. Exercise is strongly recommended to mitigate these risks, with clear dose-response benefits for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality; however, adherence can be limited, and age-related inflammation may blunt beneficial exercise adaptations. This underscores the need for accessible lifestyle strategies that support muscle function, physical performance, and healthy aging.

Polyphenols-naturally occurring bioactive compounds found in fruits and vegetables-have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects relevant to exercise recovery and muscle adaptation. The investigational supplement used in this study (Phyto-P) contains a six-polyphenol blend including chlorogenic acid, chicoric acid, anthocyanins, and quercetin derivatives. Preclinical and human trials of individual polyphenols show reductions in inflammatory cytokines, improvements in antioxidant capacity, and attenuation of exercise-induced muscle damage. Despite these promising findings, it remains unknown whether a multi-polyphenol blend such as Phyto-P can enhance exercise-induced improvements in muscle strength, functional capacity, or molecular markers of skeletal muscle adaptation in older adults.

The purpose of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot feasibility trial is to determine whether it is practical to deliver a 12-week combined resistance band and aerobic exercise intervention with daily polyphenol supplementation in older adults. Feasibility outcomes-including recruitment, retention, exercise adherence, and supplement adherence-will determine whether a larger, fully powered efficacy trial is achievable. Secondary, exploratory outcomes will assess changes in physical function, muscular strength and power, skeletal muscle health and fiber-type distribution, cardiorespiratory fitness, self-reported well-being, and blood biomarkers, offering preliminary mechanistic insight to guide hypothesis generation for future studies.

Participants aged ≥60 years will be recruited from the Kingston community and complete screening, baseline assessments, a 12-week supervised exercise program paired with polyphenol or placebo supplementation, a midpoint assessment at week 6, and post-intervention testing that mirrors baseline procedures. The data generated from this pilot study will inform the design, methodology, and sample size requirements of future large-scale randomized controlled trials aimed at improving skeletal muscle health, physical function, and healthy aging through combined nutritional and exercise-based strategies.

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