Sarcopenia
Conditions
Keywords
Krill oil, Muscle Strength, Neuromuscular function, Physical function
Brief summary
This study aims to determine the mechanisms via which krill oil supplementation increases muscle strength and whether this translates to improvements in gait and functional characteristics in older adults. The studies we will carry out will establish, in healthy older adults, the effects of 6 months of supplementation with krill oil Objective 1) Muscle structure and function Hypothesis: Krill oil supplementation will increase muscle size and strength alongside positive changes in muscle architecture (pennation angle and fascicle length). Objective 2) Neuromuscular control and central nervous system (CNS) function Hypothesis: Krill oil supplementation will improve Neuromuscular Junction (NMJ) transmission stability and increase central drive and intramuscular coherence, as a measure of muscle synergy. Objective 3) Gait and functional characteristics Hypothesis: Krill oil supplementation will improve gait and functional characteristics.
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTVegetable oil
mixed vegetable oil
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTKrill oil
Krill oil
Sponsors
University of Glasgow
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
All supplements will be matched for taste and look
Intervention model description
1:1 parallel group design
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to 90 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* body mass index (BMI) \</= 30 kg/m2 * Age \>/= 65 years * Capacity to consent * Living within the Glasgow area
Exclusion criteria
* Diabetes mellitus * Severe cardiovascular disease * Seizure disorders * Uncontrolled hypertension (\>150/90mmHg) * Active cancer or cancer that has been in remission \<5 years * Participation in any resistance exercise training within the last 6 months * Impairments which may limit ability to perform assessments of muscle function * Dementia * Fish/shellfish allergy * Taking medication known to affect muscle (e.g. steroids, Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or anticoagulants (e.g. warfarin) * Taking omega-3 supplements in the last 3 months * Regularly consuming 1 or more portions of oily fish per week * Not able to understand English
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Grip strength | Change from baseline to 24 weeks | We will measure grip strength using a handgrip dynamometer, making 3 maximal contractions in each hand, with the dominant hand recorded. The highest grip strength will be used in analysis. |
| Neuromuscular junction transmission instability | Change from baseline to 24 weeks | We will assess peripheral motor unit (MU) characteristics in the vastus lateralis muscle using intramuscular electromyography |
| Gait speed | Change from baseline to 24 weeks | We will measure gait speed using a gaitrite connected mat during a 4 m walk test and the timed up and go test at usual speed. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Vastus lateralis fascicle length | Change from baseline to 24 weeks | We will measure this using ultrasound |
| Erythrocyte fatty acid composition | Change from baseline to 24 weeks | Blood samples (15 ml each visit) will be collected |
| Knee extensor force steadiness | Change from baseline to 24 weeks | During the contractions to measure NMJ transmission instability we will also calculate force steadiness, as a measure of neuromuscular control |
| Vastus lateralis motor unit conduction velocity | Change from baseline to 24 weeks | will be measured using High Density surface electromyography (HDsEMG) during submaximal (10%, 30%, 50% and 70% of MVC) and during the MVC |
| Vastus lateralis and vastus medialis intramuscular coherence | Change from baseline to 24 weeks | Motor unit spike train will be measured using the surface electromyography (sEMG) electrodes while participants exert 20% of maximum voluntary contraction |
| Hand flexor muscles intermuscular coherence | Change from baseline to 24 weeks | Intermuscular coherence will be measured for 1 min on 20% of MVC using sEMG electrodes. |
| Knee extensor maximal torque | Change from baseline to 24 weeks | We will measure the muscle strength of the knee extensor muscles during a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) |
| Femoral Nerve Stimulation | Change from baseline to 24 weeks | Single stimuli will be delivered to the muscle while participants maintain a 20% MVC isometric contraction, and the intensity of stimulation was increased until a plateau in twitch amplitude and rectus femoris M-wave (Mmax) occurs. Supramaximal stimulation will then be delivered by increasing the final stimulator output intensity by a further 30%. |
| Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) | Change from baseline to 24 weeks | Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) will be elicited in the rectus femoris of the dominant leg via single pulse TMS and assessed using electromyographic (EMG) recordings. |
| TMS Inhibition | Change from baseline to 24 weeks | corticomotor inhibition during the MVCs a single TMS stimulation will be delivered over the motor cortex. |
| TMS Excitation | Change from baseline to 24 weeks | For assessment of corticospinal excitability, participants will maintain a 20% MVC isometric contraction while 20 single TMS pulses, separated by 6 s, will be delivered over the motor cortex |
| Gait characteristics during 4m walk test and the timed up and go test | Change from baseline to 24 weeks | The 4 m walk test involves participants walking a 4m distance at a normal walking pace, walking through the 4m line at the end of the gaitrite mat. The Timed Up and Go test (timed version of the Get Up and Go test) involves the participant sitting on a chair getting up, walking 3 meters in front of them across the gaitrite mat, returning to the chair and sitting down. The Theia markerless system will be used to extract Gait parameters |
| Gait cycle with leg support parameters | Change from baseline to 24 weeks | We will also get posture information from the 3D skeleton measurements and balance (pitch and roll) which are important in assessing fall risks and functional gait. |
| Cortico-muscular coherence between sensory motor cortex and hand extensor muscles | Change from baseline to 24 weeks | Cortico-muscular coherence is a derived measure, based on measurement of the electroencephalography (EEG) and motor unit spikes. EEG electrodes will be placed over the motor area of hands and worn during hand contractions |
| Vastus lateralis muscle cross sectional area | Change from baseline to 24 weeks | We will measure this using ultrasound |
| Vastus lateralis pennation angle | Change from baseline to 24 weeks | We will measure this using ultrasound |
Countries
United Kingdom
Contacts
Primary ContactStuart Gray
Outcome results
None listed