Thirteen weeks of supplementation of vitamin D and leucine-enriched whey protein nutritional supplement attenuates chronic low-grade inflammation in sarcopenic older adults: the PROVIDE study

BackgroundA chronic low-grade inflammatory profile (CLIP) is associated with sarcopenia in older adults. Protein and Vitamin (Vit)D have immune-modulatory potential, but evidence for effects of nutritional supplementation on CLIP is limited.AimTo investigate whether 13weeks of nutritional supplementation of VitD and leucine-enriched whey protein affected CLIP in subjects enrolled in the PROVIDE-study, as a secondary analysis.MethodsSarcopenic adults (low skeletal muscle mass) aged 65years with mobility limitations (Short Physical Performance Battery 4-9) and a body mass index of 20-30kg/m(2) were randomly allocated to two daily servings of active (n=137, including 20 g of whey protein, 3 g of leucine and 800IU VitD) or isocaloric control product (n=151) for a double-blind period of 13weeks. At baseline and after 13weeks, circulating interleukin (IL)-8, IL-1 receptor antagonist (RA), soluble tumor-necrosis-factor receptor (sTNFR)1, IL-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, pre-albumin and 25-hydroxyvitamin(OH)D were measured. Data-analysis included repeated measures analysis of covariance (corrected for dietary VitD intake) and linear regression.ResultsIL-6 and IL-1Ra serum levels showed overall increases after 13weeks (p=0.006 and p<0.001, respectively). For IL-6 a significant time x treatment interaction (p=0.046) was observed, with no significant change over time in the active group (p=0.155) compared to control (significant increase p=0.012). IL-8 showed an overall significant decrease (p=0.03). The change in pre-albumin was a significant predictor for changes in IL-6 after 13weeks.ConclusionsWe conclude that 13weeks of nutritional supplementation with VitD and leucine-enriched whey protein may attenuate the progression of CLIP in older sarcopenic persons with mobility limitations.