Nutrition and Exercise Program to Improve Frailty in Older Adults Aged 65 to 85 A Randomized Controlled Study

What this Trial Is About

The global population of older adults is rapidly growing, with a significant increase in those aged 65 and over, especially in China. Frailty, a condition marked by reduced strength and function across multiple body systems, is common among the elderly and can lead to serious health issues such as falls, disability, hospitalization, and increased mortality. This trial aims to explore the characteristics and influencing factors of frailty in community-dwelling older adults in China, as well as to evaluate how nutritional and combined nutrition-exercise interventions affect frailty progression and management in this population. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups for a 3-month intervention period followed by a 9-month follow-up. The first group receives a multifaceted nutrition intervention including anti-inflammatory dietary plans, personalized nutritional management with daily dietary tracking via WeChat, and biweekly health education sessions for participants and caregivers. The second group receives the same nutrition intervention combined with a structured exercise program conducted three times a week, featuring warm-up, aerobic, resistance strength, and relaxation training overseen by professional coaches. The control group will continue with routine community health management including chronic disease education, counseling, and health examinations. During the study, participants will undergo evaluations at baseline, after the 3-month intervention, and at 3, 6, and 12 months follow-up to assess physical performance using the Short Physical Performance Battery SPPB and frailty scores. Additional measures include assessments of frailty trajectories, nutritional risk, intrinsic capacity, quality of life, cognitive function, sleep quality, serum protein and inflammatory markers, and adverse events. Data will be collected via validated questionnaires, clinical exams, and laboratory tests to understand the sustainability and impact of the interventions over time.

A Multifaceted Nutrition Intervention for Frailty in the Community Elderly