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Effects of Timing of Medium-Chain Triglycerides (8:0 and 10:0) Supplementation during the Day on Muscle Mass, Function and Cognition in Frail Elderly Adults

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  • Trials and therapeutics
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Abstract

Objectives

Supplementation with 6 g/day of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) at dinnertime increases muscle function and cognition in frail elderly adults relative to supplementation with long-chain triglycerides. However, suitable timing of MCT supplementation during the day is unknown.

Design

We enrolled 40 elderly nursing home residents (85.9 ± 7.7 years) in a 1.5-month randomized intervention trial. Participants were randomly allocated to two groups: one received 6 g/day of MCTs at breakfast (breakfast group) as a test group and the other at dinnertime (dinner group) as a positive control group.

Measurements

Muscle mass, strength, function, and cognition were monitored at baseline and 1.5 months after initiation of intervention. RESULTS: Thirty-seven participants completed the study and were included in the analysis. MCT supplementation in breakfast and dinner groups respectively increased right arm muscle area from baseline by 1.1 ± 0.8 cm2 (P<0.001) and 1.6 ± 2.5 cm2 (P<0.001), left arm muscle area by 1.1 ± 0.7 cm2 (P<0.001) and 0.9 ± 1.0 cm2 (P<0.01), right knee extension time by 39 ± 42 s (P<0.01) and 20 ± 32 s (P<0.05), leg open and close test time by 1.74 ± 2.00 n/10 s (P<0.01) and 1.67 ± 2.01 n/10 s (P<0.01), and Mini-Mental State Examination score by 1.5 ± 3.0 points (P=0.06) and 1.0 ± 2.1 points (P=0.06). These increases between two groups did not differ statistically significantly.

Conclusion

Supplementation with 6 g MCTs/day for 1.5 months, irrespective of ingestion at breakfast or dinnertime, could increase muscle mass and function, and cognition in frail elderly adults.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank all our study participants and all personnel at the Day Care SKY nursing home for collaborating with us.

Funding

Funding sources: This study was supported by a grant from the Policy-Based Medical Services Foundation, 2019 (to SA).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Day Care SKY, Yokohama, Japan

    S. Abe & M. Suzuki

  2. Institute of Women’s Health Science, Showa Women’s University, 1-7-57 Taishido, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 154-8533, Japan

    Osamu Ezaki

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  1. S. Abe
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  2. Osamu Ezaki
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  3. M. Suzuki
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Contributions

Author contributions: SA, OE, and MS designed the research; SA and MS conducted the research; SA and OE analyzed the data or performed the statistical analysis; OE wrote the manuscript; and SA has the primary responsibility for the final content. All of the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Osamu Ezaki.

Ethics declarations

Ethical Standards: The authors declare that the study procedures comply with the current ethical standards for investigation involving human participants in Japan.

Additional information

How to cite this article: S. Abe, O. Ezaki, M. Suzuki. Effects of Timing of Medium-Chain Triglycerides (8:0 and 10:0) Supplementation during the Day on Muscle Mass, Function and Cognition in Frail Elderly Adults. J Frailty Aging 2022;11(1)100-108; https://doi.org/10.14283/jfa.2021.33

Author disclosures: SA, OE, and MS have nothing to disclose.

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Abe, S., Ezaki, O. & Suzuki, M. Effects of Timing of Medium-Chain Triglycerides (8:0 and 10:0) Supplementation during the Day on Muscle Mass, Function and Cognition in Frail Elderly Adults. J Frailty Aging 11, 100–108 (2022). https://doi.org/10.14283/jfa.2021.33

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.14283/jfa.2021.33

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