Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Immune Function And Muscle Adaptations To Resistance Exercise In Older Adults: Study Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial Of A Nutritional Supplement, Richard A. Dennis, Usha Ponnappan, Ralph L. Kodell, Kimberly K. Garner, Christopher M. Parkes, Melinda M. Bopp, Kalpana P. Padala, Charlotte A. Peterson, Prasad R. Padala, Dennis H. Sullivan

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Immune function may influence the ability of older adults to maintain or improve muscle mass, strength, and function during aging. Thus, nutritional supplementation that supports the immune system could complement resistance exercise as an intervention for age-associated muscle loss. The current study will determine the relationship between immune function and exercise training outcomes for older adults who consume a nutritional supplement or placebo during resistance training and post-training follow-up. The supplement was chosen due to evidence suggesting its ingredients [arginine (Arg), glutamine (Gln), and β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (HMB)] can improve immune function, promote muscle growth, and counteract muscle loss. …