Essential amino acid enriched meal replacement improves body composition and physical function in obese older adults: A randomized controlled trial

Melynda S. Coker; Zeinab Barati; Carl J. Murphy; Terry Bateman; Bradley R. Newcomer; Robert R. Wolfe; Robert H. Coker

doi:10.1016/j.clnesp.2022.07.004

Essential amino acid enriched meal replacement improves body composition and physical function in obese older adults: A randomized controlled trial

Melynda S. Coker, Zeinab Barati, Carl J. Murphy, Terry Bateman, Bradley R. Newcomer, Robert R. Wolfe, Robert H. Coker

School of Integrative Physiology and Athletic Training

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Older adults are threatened by the risk of muscle atrophy and excess accumulation of adipose tissue. The objective of this study was to determine whether an essential amino acid enriched meal replacement would reduce excess fat and foster skeletal muscle retention, potentially improving physical function in this cohort. Methods: Using a double blind, randomized controlled trial, we compared the influence of an experimental meal replacement enriched with essential amino acids (EMR) to a commercially available, widely used meal replacement (Optifast®) provided once/day (q.d.) for four weeks on body composition, skeletal muscle and physical function in obese older participants. Twenty-eight individuals completed either EMR (n = 13) or Optifast® (n = 15) supplementation protocols. Measurements of body composition, thigh skeletal muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), blood panels, intrahepatic lipid, and physical function were completed pre- and post-supplementation. Results: Body fat mass, visceral fat mass and volume, and intrahepatic lipid were reduced with EMR but not with Optifast®. Thigh muscle CSA increased (Δ 2.4 ± 3.0 cm²) with EMR but not Optifast® (Δ −1.8 ± 6.0 cm²). There was a significant increase in the distance covered during the 6-min walk test with EMR (Δ 23 ± 27 m) but no change in Optifast® (Δ 11 ± 37 m). Conclusions: Beneficial alterations in fat and muscle support the use of EMR-based meal replacements in obese older adults. Clinical Trial Registration: ISRCTN registry under Reference Number ISRCTN15814848.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	104-111
Number of pages	8
Journal	Clinical Nutrition ESPEN
Volume	51
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2022.07.004
State	Published - Oct 2022

Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by Essential Blends, LLC. This research was also supported in part by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award P20GM130443 ( Center for Transformative Research in Metabolism ) and P20GM103395 (Alaska INBRE). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, University of Montana, and James Madison University are affirmative action/equal employment opportunity employers and educational institutions. Research reported in this publication was supported by Essential Blends, LLC. This research was also supported in part by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award P20GM130443 (Center for Transformative Research in Metabolism) and P20GM103395 (Alaska INBRE). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, University of Montana, and James Madison University are affirmative action/equal employment opportunity employers and educational institutions.

Funders	Funder number
R43AG051298
P20GM130443, P20GM103395
James Madison University

Keywords

Body composition
Functional performance
Muscle
Nutrition

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.clnesp.2022.07.004

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title = "Essential amino acid enriched meal replacement improves body composition and physical function in obese older adults: A randomized controlled trial",

abstract = "Background: Older adults are threatened by the risk of muscle atrophy and excess accumulation of adipose tissue. The objective of this study was to determine whether an essential amino acid enriched meal replacement would reduce excess fat and foster skeletal muscle retention, potentially improving physical function in this cohort. Methods: Using a double blind, randomized controlled trial, we compared the influence of an experimental meal replacement enriched with essential amino acids (EMR) to a commercially available, widely used meal replacement (Optifast{\textregistered}) provided once/day (q.d.) for four weeks on body composition, skeletal muscle and physical function in obese older participants. Twenty-eight individuals completed either EMR (n = 13) or Optifast{\textregistered} (n = 15) supplementation protocols. Measurements of body composition, thigh skeletal muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), blood panels, intrahepatic lipid, and physical function were completed pre- and post-supplementation. Results: Body fat mass, visceral fat mass and volume, and intrahepatic lipid were reduced with EMR but not with Optifast{\textregistered}. Thigh muscle CSA increased (Δ 2.4 ± 3.0 cm2) with EMR but not Optifast{\textregistered} (Δ −1.8 ± 6.0 cm2). There was a significant increase in the distance covered during the 6-min walk test with EMR (Δ 23 ± 27 m) but no change in Optifast{\textregistered} (Δ 11 ± 37 m). Conclusions: Beneficial alterations in fat and muscle support the use of EMR-based meal replacements in obese older adults. Clinical Trial Registration: ISRCTN registry under Reference Number ISRCTN15814848.",

keywords = "Body composition, Functional performance, Muscle, Nutrition",

author = "Coker, \{Melynda S.\} and Zeinab Barati and Murphy, \{Carl J.\} and Terry Bateman and Newcomer, \{Bradley R.\} and Wolfe, \{Robert R.\} and Coker, \{Robert H.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 The Author(s)",

year = "2022",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1016/j.clnesp.2022.07.004",

language = "English",

volume = "51",

pages = "104--111",

journal = "Clinical Nutrition ESPEN",

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publisher = "Elsevier Ltd",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Essential amino acid enriched meal replacement improves body composition and physical function in obese older adults

T2 - A randomized controlled trial

AU - Coker, Melynda S.

AU - Barati, Zeinab

AU - Murphy, Carl J.

AU - Bateman, Terry

AU - Newcomer, Bradley R.

AU - Wolfe, Robert R.

AU - Coker, Robert H.

PY - 2022/10

Y1 - 2022/10

N2 - Background: Older adults are threatened by the risk of muscle atrophy and excess accumulation of adipose tissue. The objective of this study was to determine whether an essential amino acid enriched meal replacement would reduce excess fat and foster skeletal muscle retention, potentially improving physical function in this cohort. Methods: Using a double blind, randomized controlled trial, we compared the influence of an experimental meal replacement enriched with essential amino acids (EMR) to a commercially available, widely used meal replacement (Optifast®) provided once/day (q.d.) for four weeks on body composition, skeletal muscle and physical function in obese older participants. Twenty-eight individuals completed either EMR (n = 13) or Optifast® (n = 15) supplementation protocols. Measurements of body composition, thigh skeletal muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), blood panels, intrahepatic lipid, and physical function were completed pre- and post-supplementation. Results: Body fat mass, visceral fat mass and volume, and intrahepatic lipid were reduced with EMR but not with Optifast®. Thigh muscle CSA increased (Δ 2.4 ± 3.0 cm2) with EMR but not Optifast® (Δ −1.8 ± 6.0 cm2). There was a significant increase in the distance covered during the 6-min walk test with EMR (Δ 23 ± 27 m) but no change in Optifast® (Δ 11 ± 37 m). Conclusions: Beneficial alterations in fat and muscle support the use of EMR-based meal replacements in obese older adults. Clinical Trial Registration: ISRCTN registry under Reference Number ISRCTN15814848.

AB - Background: Older adults are threatened by the risk of muscle atrophy and excess accumulation of adipose tissue. The objective of this study was to determine whether an essential amino acid enriched meal replacement would reduce excess fat and foster skeletal muscle retention, potentially improving physical function in this cohort. Methods: Using a double blind, randomized controlled trial, we compared the influence of an experimental meal replacement enriched with essential amino acids (EMR) to a commercially available, widely used meal replacement (Optifast®) provided once/day (q.d.) for four weeks on body composition, skeletal muscle and physical function in obese older participants. Twenty-eight individuals completed either EMR (n = 13) or Optifast® (n = 15) supplementation protocols. Measurements of body composition, thigh skeletal muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), blood panels, intrahepatic lipid, and physical function were completed pre- and post-supplementation. Results: Body fat mass, visceral fat mass and volume, and intrahepatic lipid were reduced with EMR but not with Optifast®. Thigh muscle CSA increased (Δ 2.4 ± 3.0 cm2) with EMR but not Optifast® (Δ −1.8 ± 6.0 cm2). There was a significant increase in the distance covered during the 6-min walk test with EMR (Δ 23 ± 27 m) but no change in Optifast® (Δ 11 ± 37 m). Conclusions: Beneficial alterations in fat and muscle support the use of EMR-based meal replacements in obese older adults. Clinical Trial Registration: ISRCTN registry under Reference Number ISRCTN15814848.

KW - Body composition

KW - Functional performance

KW - Muscle

KW - Nutrition

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85135502885

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DO - 10.1016/j.clnesp.2022.07.004

M3 - Article

C2 - 36184194

AN - SCOPUS:85135502885

SN - 2405-4577

VL - 51

SP - 104

EP - 111

JO - Clinical Nutrition ESPEN

JF - Clinical Nutrition ESPEN

ER -

Essential amino acid enriched meal replacement improves body composition and physical function in obese older adults: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

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