The efficacy of exercise training and nutritional supplementation in prostate cancer survivors

A randomised controlled trial in which participants treated with androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer will participant in progressive resistance exercise training program and daily supplementation of calcium, vitamin D and protein for 52 weeks. The exercise training program will be individually tailored and follow the key training principles of specificity, progressive overload and periodisation. Participants will attend two gym-based training sessions per week and complete one home-based training session. For the first 26 weeks, both gym-based training sessions will be supervised by a student exercise physiologist supervised by an accredited exercise physiologist. After 26 weeks, only one gym-based training session will be supervised and the participant will be instructed to perform the other gym-based session unsupervised. Each session will last approximately 60 minutes. Participants will perform resistance, weight-bearing impact and functional exercises. Participants will perform resistance exercises in two sets of 8-15 repetitions at a weight that cannot be lifted more than 8-15 times. Participants will perform weight-bearing impact exercises in three sets of 10-20 repetitions. Participants will perform functional exercises for 30-60 seconds or until fatigue. To enhance benefits from the exercise training program, participants will also consume a nutritional supplement of approximately 500-600mg calcium, 2000IU vitamin D and 20-25g protein daily. The supplement will be administered via a combination of a powder based supplement (mixed with water) and oral capsule. Compliance with the gym-based exercise training program will be assessed via the training notes kept by the participant's trainer. Compliance with the home-based exercise training program will be assessed via an exercise diary (which will be regularly assessed by the participant's trainer). Compliance with the supplement will be assessed via a supplement compliance calendar (which will be regularly assessed by the participant's trainer and/or other researchers). Additionally, all non-consumed supplements will be returned to the researchers and compliance will assessed to ensure it matches the compliance calendar.