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

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.