Effects of Polyphenol Supplementation and Exercise on Physical Performance in Older Adults

Summary

After approximately age 40 years, individuals experience a natural loss of muscle mass, strength, and physical function that is linked to higher risks of falls, disability, loss of independence, and mortality. These losses can also be a precursor to the development of frailty, which includes factors beyond impaired physical function such as cognitive impairment, psychological disorder, increased likelihood of hospitalization, need of long term-care, and mortality. Structured exercise-encompassing both resistance and aerobic training-is widely recognized as an effective lifestyle intervention for improving muscle health, cardiovascular capacity, and overall physical function in older adults. However, aging is accompanied by chronically elevated systemic inflammation, and although exercise remains highly beneficial, older adults exhibit a heightened inflammatory response to training and a diminished capacity for post-exercise recovery.

Polyphenols, a group of naturally occurring bioactive compounds, have been shown to possess both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, positively impacting recovery and health. Polyphenol supplementation, particularly when paired with structured exercise, may elicit synergistic improvements in physical performance through combined effects on oxidative stress, inflammation, and muscle recovery, making polyphenols a compelling adjunct strategy for mitigating sarcopenia. In pursuit of refining strategies that support healthy aging and preserve functional capacity in older adults, this study aimed to determine the feasibility of implementing a 12-week resistance and aerobic exercise program combined with dietary supplementation in older adults.

Participants will either consume a polyphenol blend or a placebo control of maltodextrin daily whilst undergoing 12 weeks of supervised resistance and aerobic exercise. Additionally, this study will test the hypothesis that polyphenol supplementation will augment the exercise-induced improvements in physical function and muscle health. Further, exploratory analyses of skeletal muscle biopsy and venous plasma samples will aid in elucidating the potential geroprotective effects of polyphenols at both cellular and molecular levels.

Conditions

• Sarcopenia
• Aging
• Frailty

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Polyphenol Rich-Extract

Polyphenol Rich-Extract (Phyto-P) derived from Lactuca Sativa (red leaf lettuce). 12-Week daily consumption of 3g of Phyto-P (polyphenol-rich extract: chlorogenic acid (30.15 mg), chicoric acid (13.44 mg), 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid (8.43 mg), quercetin-3-O-glucoside (15.81 mg), quercetin-3-O-malonyl glucoside (33.00 mg), and anthocyanins (30.57 mg)) as capsules.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Maltodextrin (Placebo)

12-Week Daily consumption of 3g of maltodextrin consumed as capsules.

BEHAVIORAL

Resistance Band-Based & Aerobic Stationary Cycling Exercise

Resistance Band-Based Exercise: Participants will complete a dynamic warm up followed by eight exercises (squats, hip extensions, rows, chest press, split squats, calf raises, bicep curls, tricep extensions) each session, organized as four supersets of two exercises targeting both upper and lower body. Each exercise will be performed with a controlled three-second eccentric phase, with sets and repetitions gradually progressing from 2 × 8-12 to 3 × 12-14. Resistance will be increased using band color (thickness), and post-set Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) will guide individualized progression. Sessions will be conducted twice weekly for approximately 50 minutes. Aerobic Stationary Cycling: Participants will perform stationary cycling twice weekly for approximately 50 minutes per session at 60% of peak work rate (WRpeak). Exercise intensity will be re-prescribed after mid-point testing to ensure continued progression and alignment with participants' current fitness level

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Canadian Frailty Network

  collaborator OTHER

• Dr. Chris McGlory, PhD

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-09-01

Primary Completion

2026-06-30

Completion

2026-06-30

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations