Physiological effects beyond the significant gain in muscle mass in sarcopenic elderly men: evidence from a randomized clinical trial using a protein-rich food

Figures & data

Table 1 Descriptive characteristics of subjects in the RCH + HD and HD groups

	RCH + HD Group (n = 20)	HD Group (n = 20)	P-value
Sex
Male, n	8	9	–
Female, n	12	11	–
Age, years	75.4 ± 5.0	76.7 ± 5.8	0.45
Body weight, kg	68.7 ± 8.6	67.8 ± 10.9	0.78
Height, cm	161.4 ± 8.7	161.3 ± 8.9	0.99
BMI, kg/m^2	26.5 ± 4.0	26.1 ± 3.7	0.71
Body fat, %	41.9 ± 9.4	41.3 ± 10.1	0.83
Lean tissue in arm, kg	4.1 ± 0.8	3.9 ± 0.8	0.51
Lean tissue in leg, kg	11.6 ± 2.1	11.4 ± 2.0	0.80
TASM, kg	15.7 ± 3.0	15.3 ± 2.8	0.70
Lean body mass, kg	37.1 ± 6.3	36.9 ± 6.4	0.89
Bone mineral content, kg	2.5 ± 0.5	2.4 ± 0.5	0.66
Strength, kg	22.0 ± 6.1	22.7 ± 6.4	0.73
Glucose, mg/dL	95.8 ± 11.6	97.7 ± 11.2	0.60
Insulin, μUI/L	9.9 ± 3.8	9.5 ± 6.2	0.79
HOMA-IR	2.4 ± 1.2	2.3 ± 1.8	0.89
GFR	58.2 ± 20.4	58.3 ± 16.1	0.98
Total cholesterol, mg/dL	200.7 ± 45.1	209.2 ± 43.4	0.54
Triglycerides, mg/dL	137.4 ± 53.6	130.4 ± 59.5	0.69
IGF-1, μg/L	53.5 ± 36.8	57.7 ± 27.3	0.68

Note: Data are presented as means ± SD.

Abbreviations: TASM, total appendicular skeletal muscle; BMI, body mass index; HOMA-IR, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance; GFR, glomerular filtration rate; IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor 1; HD, habitual diet; RCH, ricotta cheese.

Figure 1 Participant flow during the trial.

Abbreviations: DXA, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; HD, habitual diet; RCH, ricotta cheese.

Table 2 Relative changes associated with the additional intake of 210 g of ricotta cheese in sarcopenic elderly

	RCH + HD group (n = 20)			HD group (n = 20)			P-value
	Baseline	Follow-up	% relative change	Baseline	Follow-up	% relative change
TASM, kg	15.7 ± 2.9	16.0 ± 3.1	2.2	15.3 ± 2.8	15.5 ± 2.8	1.5	0.54
Strength, kg	22.0 ± 6.1	22.1 ± 6.6	0.9	22.7 ± 6.4	22.0 ± 6.8	−3.5	0.06
Body fat, kg	27.3 ± 7.8	26.8 ± 7.8	−2.3	26.7 ± 9.1	25.7 ± 8.6	−3.7	0.46
Truncal fat, kg	16.4 ± 4.1	16.1 ± 4.1	−2.4	15.9 ± 6.0	15.4 ± 5.1	1.5	0.52
Lean body mass, arms, kg	4.1 ± 0.8	4.2 ± 0.9	2.3	3.9 ± 0.8	4.0 ± 0.8	1.4	0.60
Lean body mass, legs, kg	11.6 ± 2.1	11.8 ± 2.2	2.3	11.4 ± 2.0	11.6 ± 2.0	1.6	0.60
Lean body mass, kg	37.1 ± 6.3	37.9 ± 6.5	2.0	36.8 ± 6.4	37.6 ± 6.4	2.1	0.95
Total body mass, kg	66.9 ± 8.3	67.1 ± 9.0	0.2	66.0 ± 10.6	65.7 ± 10.2	−0.4	0.46
Body weight, kg	68.7 ± 8.5	68.8 ± 9.1	0.1	67.8 ± 10.9	67.4 ± 10.4	−0.6	0.31
IGF-1, μg/L	50.0 ± 34.3	59.6 ± 42.7	38.8	57.7 ± 27.3	64.9 ± 42.2	13.6	0.34
Insulin, μUI/L	9.6 ± 3.6	9.3 ± 3.2	−0.8	9.5 ± 6.2	8.7 ± 2.4	0.6	0.82
HOMA-IR	2.4 ± 1.1	2.2 ± 1.0	−2.4	2.3 ± 1.8	2.1 ± 0.8	−1.8	0.92
Glucose, mg/dL	96.0 ± 11.9	94.2 ± 12.1	−1.6	97.7 ± 11.2	94.2 ± 14.9	−3.0	0.71
Hemoglobin, g/dL	13.6 ± 1.8	14.0 ± 1.5	3.7	13.1 ± 1.4	13.3 ± 1.7	1.8	0.36
Total cholesterol, mg/dL	200.6 ± 46.4	197.3 ± 54.6	−1.3	209.3 ± 43.4	209.7 ± 48.5	0.3	0.71
Triglycerides, mg/dL	141.1 ± 52.5	129.5 ± 71.2	−8.5	130.4 ± 59.5	120.2 ± 56.4	−3.2	0.58
Creatinine, mg/dL	1.1 ± 0.3	1.0 ± 0.3	3.4	1.0 ± 0.3	0.8 ± 0.2	−14.8	0.23
Uric acid, mg/dL	4.6 ± 1.8	3.9 ± 1.2	−8.9	4.4 ± 1.3	4.1 ± 1.2	3.9	0.59
Urea, mg/dL	35.5 ± 11.0	34.3 ± 11.9	−1.0	35.3 ± 8.7	33.1 ± 10.8	−4.2	0.73
GFR	57.4 ± 20.6	62.1 ± 21.9	19.7	58.3 ± 16.1	81.8 ± 57.2	42.2	0.37
Microalbumin, mg/g of creatinine	7.0 ± 6.3	6.7 ± 6.2	7.2	8.4 ± 7.6	9.6 ± 10.0	19.3	0.61

Note: Values are presented as means ± SD.

Abbreviations: TASM, total appendicular skeletal muscle; IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor 1; HOMA-IR, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance; GFR, glomerular filtration rate; HD, habitual diet; RCH, ricotta cheese.

Table 3 Effect of gender on relative changes associated with the additional intake of 210 g of ricotta cheese

	RCH + HD group			HD group			P
	Baseline	Follow-up	% relative change	Baseline	Follow-up	% relative change
Men
TASM (kg)	18.8 ± 4.4	19.3 ± 1.6	2.7	18.0 ± 1.2	18.2 ± 1.2	1.2	0.42
Strength (kg)	27.4 ± 5.4	28.1 ± 6.1	3.2	28.4 ± 4.4	28.3 ± 4.60	−0.3	0.17
Body fat (kg)	21.9 ± 4.1	22.0 ± 4.9	0.1	22.9 ± 9.5	21.9 ± 8.4	−3.9	0.27
Truncal fat, kg	14.6 ± 2.4	14.8 ± 3.0	0.9	15.1 ± 6.8	14.5 ± 6.0	−2.8	0.44
Lean body mass, arms, kg	4.9 ± 0.5	5.1 ± 0.6	4.7	4.7 ± 0.4	4.8 ± 0.4	1.3	0.12
Lean body mass, legs, kg	13.8 ±1.2	14.1 ± 1.2	1.9	13.3 ± 1.0	13.4 ± 0.9	1.3	0.74
Lean body mass, kg	43.7 ± 2.1	44.8 ± 2.8	2.5	43.2 ± 2.7	44.0 ± 2.6	1.9	0.60
Total body mass, kg	68.5 ± 4.5	69.7 ± 6.2	1.7	68.9 ± 11.7	68.7 ± 10.4	−0.1	0.26
Body weight, kg	70.0 ± 5.1	71.2 ± 6.2	1.6	70.6 ± 12.1	70.2 ± 10.8	−0.4	0.15
Glucose (mg/dL)	99.3 ± 14.4	97.5 ± 11.0	−1.3	99.5 ± 9.4	93.3 ± 7.8	−5.7	0.32
IGF-1 (μg/L)	60.4 ± 20.0	78.8 ± 44.8	23.4	60.5 ± 23.3	69.8 ± 41.5	12.9	0.70
Insulin (μUI/L)	9.9 ± 3.9	8.5 ± 2.1	−10.1	7.7 ± 1.2	8.1 ± 1.4	5.0	0.05
HOMA-IR	2.5 ± 1.3	2.1 ± 0.7	−11.1	1.9 ± 0.4	1.9 ± 0.4	−0.8	0.27
Women
TASM (kg)	13.6 ± 1.4	13.9 ± 1.5	2.0	13.1 ± 1.2	13.3 ± 1.3	1.7	0.87
Strength (kg)	18.3 ± 2.9	18.2 ± 3.0	−0.3	18.0 ± 3.2	16.9 ± 2.8	−6.1	0.10
Body fat (kg)	31.0 ± 7.6	30.0 ± 7.9	−3.9	29.9 ± 7.8	28.8 ± 7.7	−3.5	0.82
Abdominal fat, kg	17.7 ± 4.6	17.0 ± 4.6	−4.6	16.7 ± 5.5	16.2 ± 4.4	4.9	0.34
Lean body mass, arms, kg	3.5 ± 0.5	3.5 ± 0.4	0.7	3.2 ± 0.3	3.3 ± 0.3	1.2	0.72
Lean body mass, legs, kg	10.1 ± 1.0	10.3 ± 1.2	2.5	9.9 ± 0.9	10.1 ± 1.0	1.8	0.70
Lean body mass, kg	32.8 ± 3.7	33.3 ± 3.5	1.7	31.7 ± 2.4	32.4 ± 2.7	2.2	0.71
Total body mass, kg	65.9 ± 10.2	65.4 ± 10.4	−0.7	63.6 ± 9.6	63.2 ± 9.8	−0.6	0.87
Body weight, kg	67.8 ± 10.3	67.2 ± 10.6	−0.8	65.5 ± 9.7	65.1 ± 10.0	−0.8	0.92
Glucose (mg/dL)	94.1 ± 10.3	92.3 ± 12.7	−1.9	96.1 ± 12.7	95.0 ± 19.2	−0.8	0.84
IGF-1 (μg/L)	44.0 ± 40.0	48.5 ± 38.9	47.9	55.4 ± 31.2	60.8 ± 44.2	14.1	0.42
Insulin (μUI/L)	9.4 ± 3.6	9.8 ± 3.7	4.7	10.9 ± 8.2	9.2 ± 2.9	−3.0	0.41
HOMA-IR	2.3 ± 1.0	2.3 ± 1.2	2.5	2.7 ± 2.4	2.2 ± 1.0	−2.5	0.66

Note: Values are presented as means ± SD.

Abbreviations: TASM, total appendicular skeletal muscle; IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor 1; HOMA-IR, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance; HD, habitual diet; RCH, ricotta cheese.