APPETITE: Plant Protein and Exercise Solutions for the Prevention of Undernutrition in Older Adults.

Not Applicable

Active, not recruiting

• Conditions: Physical Inactivity; Undernutrition; Aging; Anorexia of Aging; Ageing Well; Appetite Loss
• Interventions: Behavioral: Physical activity intervention; Dietary Supplement: Personalised nutrition intervention

• Registration Number: NCT05608707
• Lead Sponsor: University College Dublin

Brief Summary

The APPETITE Trial aims to investigate the efficacy of innovative plant protein fibre (PPF) products (developed in a previous workpackage) as part of a personalised diet with/out physical activity on appetite and incidence of undernutrition in older persons from three European countries at high risk of undernutrition.

Detailed Description

It is normal that dietary intake decreases as we age due to reduced activity and muscle mass. However, appetite is a key determinant of dietary intake, and poor appetite can result in undernutrition. In many instances, older adults do not recognise their appetite has decreased significantly as the decline is slow and progressive. Protein and fibre are often poorly consumed in the diets of older adults with decreased appetite, but essential for health and well-being. Interventions designed to increase appetite, or increase dietary intake despite a reduced appetite, should therefore be key to preventing undernutrition (i.e. protein-energy malnutrition as well as nutrient deficiencies). However, treatment strategies for poor appetite are not well-established.

In this multi-centre randomised controlled trial conducted in Ireland, Germany, and Italy, a two-by-two factorial design will define the individual and combined impact of two intervention conditions over 12 weeks: 1) personalised diet with focus on plant-based protein plus fibre; and 2) physical activity.

At each centre, 60 older adults (180 in total) will be randomly allocated to one of the following four groups over a 12 week period: 1) personalised diet plus physical activity program (PD + PA), 2) usual diet plus physical activity (PA), 3) personalised diet and no PA (PD), and 4) control (usual diet, no PA).

Using identical procedures, two testing visits will be completed before and after the 12 intervention or control period.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2022-09-22
• Study First Submitted: 2022-10-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-11-02
• Study First Posted: 2022-11-08
• Primary Completion: 2024-07-17
• Status Verified: 2024-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-12-04
• Last Update Posted: 2024-12-09
• Study Completion: 2025-09

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 180

Inclusion Criteria

• Community-dwelling,
• Age 65+ years,
• BMI 19.5-30.4kg/m2,
• Inactive (<150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week and no regular resistance training),
• Have proof of Covid-19 vaccination

Exclusion Criteria

• Major cognitive impairment (MMSE ≤24),
• Uncontrolled Clinical depression (CES-D >16),
• Medical condition or current medication known to impact appetite or energy intake,
• Other medical condition that may impact ability to participate in study or study outcomes,
• Heavy smoker (>10/day),
• Plans to relocate out of the study area within the next 6 months,
• Inability to come to study centre/PA program location,
• Currently participating in another intervention study,
• Inability to participate in physical activity,
• Unable to walk across a room,
• Allergic to or unwilling to consume any of the study test foods,
• Loss of taste or smell associated with COVID-19,
• Unwilling to be randomised to any intervention group.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: FACTORIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Usual diet plus physical activity	Physical activity intervention	Participants will consume their usual diet and undertake 2 weekly group exercise sessions incorporating strength and balance exercises, along with home-based exercise
Personalised diet plus physical activity intervention	Physical activity intervention	A personalised diet intervention involving the incorporation of the developed plant-based protein and fibre product. Participants will also undertake 2 weekly group exercise sessions incorporating strength and balance exercises, along with home-based exercise
Personalised diet plus physical activity intervention	Personalised nutrition intervention	A personalised diet intervention involving the incorporation of the developed plant-based protein and fibre product. Participants will also undertake 2 weekly group exercise sessions incorporating strength and balance exercises, along with home-based exercise
Personalised diet plus usual physical activity	Personalised nutrition intervention	A personalised diet intervention involving the incorporation of the developed plant-based protein and fibre product.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Ad libitum energy intake (kcal)	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	12-week change in energy intake assessed at an an ad libitum lunch test meal
Changes in subjective appetite sensations	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	12-week change in appetite to be assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) during a test meal challenge. The VAS is a validated tool for assessing subjective sensations such as hunger, fullness and desire to eat. On each 100-mm line, an appetite (hunger, fullness, desire to eat) sensation was paired with the opposing sensation (for example, 'hungry' and 'not hungry').

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Resting Energy Expenditure (REE) (sub-sample)	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	12-week change in resting energy expenditure will be assessed using indirect calorimetry
Cardiorespiratory fitness	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	12-week change in cardiorespiratory fitness will be assessed using the 400-meter walk test
Body composition (fat mass, fat free mass) by air displacement phlethysmography (sub-sample)	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	12-week change in body composition will be assessed using air displacement plethysmography (Bodpod).
Cognitive Dietary Restraint	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	12-week change in dietary restraint will be assessed using the Cognitive Dietary Restraint (CDR) subscale of the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ). The questionnaire consists of a subscale of 6 questions relating to cognitive dietary restraint from the orignal 50 item questionnaire. The questions are a mix of 'true/false', and likert scale type answers.
Dietary Record (energy, protein and fibre intake)	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	12-week change in energy, protein and fibre intake assessed using a three-day non-weighed dietary record
Gut metabolomic profiles and gut microbiome diversity	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	12-week change in gut microbiota quality and diversity assessed by faecal matter and faecal water.
Body composition by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	Body composition will be assessed by BIA across all sites at baseline and post intervention. BIA is a quick non-invasive method of measuring body composition. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) measures body composition based on the rate at which an electrical current travels through the body. Body fat (adipose tissue) causes greater resistance (impedance) than lean mass and slows the rate at which the current travels. The device provides an output of absolute (Kg) and percentage (% of total mass) of fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM).
Body weight (kg)	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	Body weight will be measure using a calibrated scales, shoes and heavy clothing removes, and recorded in kilograms.
Handgrip strength	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	12-week change in handgrip strength will be assessed using a Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer
Isometric knee extension strength	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	12-week changes in isometric leg strength will be assessed using a seated leg extension dynamometer
Appetite hormones (Ghrelin, GLP-1, & PYY) (sub-sample)	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	12-week change in appetite-related gut hormone response to a fixed meal. Assessed in circulating peripheral bloods at fasting, and at regular intervals postprandially (minute 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, \& 180).
Test meal palatability by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	Rating of the breakfast and lunch test meals by visual analogue scales (VAS). The VAS is a validated tool for assessing subjective sensory experience. On each 100-mm line, a question is asked relating to sensory aspects of the meal (E.g., How pleasant was the meal?). The subject will mark along the 100mm line where they feel their experience, in terms of the question, rests. On ether end of the 100mm line are opposing terms (E.g., "not at all", "extremely").
Calf circumference (cm)	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	Calf circumference is measures using a non-stretch tape measure at the widest part of the calf muscle and recorded in centimetres.
Body composition by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (sub-sample)	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	DXA will be performed on a sub-sample of participants enrolled on the APPETITE study. A DXA can involves a large scanning arm being passed over the body to measure compartments of the body structure. As the scanning arm is moved slowly over your body, a narrow beam of low-dose X-rays will be passed through the part of your body being examined. DXA is a quick and non-invasive scan that provides in-depth analysis of the main components of your body; fat, muscle and bone.
7-day physical activity score as assessed by ActivPAL v4.0	To be assessed at baseline, prior to commencing the intervention, and during week 12 of the intervention or control period	12-week change in physical activity score will be assessed using 7-day accelerometery data. This is a validated device that is installed onto an individuals thigh for continuous readings. The data generated describes the amount of time spent engaging in physical activities and sedentary activities, and gives an output score in MET.h (Metabolic EquivalenT hour). This is a measure of energy usage over and above what is required at rest, where 1MET is equivalent to oxygen uptake of 3.5ml/kg body weight/minute
Physical performance	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	12-week change in physical function will be assessed using the Short Physical Activity Battery (SPPB)
Participants subjective rating of perceived Quality of Life as assessed by the EQ-5D-5L	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	12-week changes in perceived quality of life will be assessed using the EuroQol (European Quality Of Life) questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). This consists of self-assessed rating of health under 5 dimensions (Mobility, Self-Care, Usual Activity, Pain/Discomfort, Anxiety/Depression), and perceived overall health on a magnitude scale (0-100) anchored with opposing statements (0= the worst health you can imagine; 100= the best health you can imagine).
Perception and evaluation of the trial	End of trial (up to 18-weeks)	Questionnaire specific to the project. This questionnaire will serve to provide feedback about participants experience while enrolled on the project. The questionnaire will include a series of Likert style questions and open-ended questions. The purpose is the provide feedback to the study team on what participants liked or disliked about the experience. This will serve to inform future management of studies.
Motor Unit Signalling (sub-sample)	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	by electromyography (EMG)
muscle signalling related to muscle plasticity, metabolism, denervation and muscle capillarization (sub-sample)	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	This refers to the analyses of muscle biopsies. Biopsies will be taken using MEDAX/BF14100-C0; Bio-Feather with coaxial 14 g 10 cm. The following parameters will then be measured in the sample using western blot with specific antibodies for total proteins or by their activated phosphorylated form: 1) markers of denervation (AChR ; agrin/MuSK/Lrp4, NCAM, Myog); 2) markers of protein turnover (atrogin1, MURF1, LC3, BNIP3, Akt-dependent mTOR and FoxO); 3) markers of mitochondrial dynamics (OPA1, DRP1) and; 4) markers of energy metabolism pathways (AMPK and PGC1alpha).
Innate immune training of macrophages	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	Trained immunity describes the long-term functional reprogramming of innate immune cells after exposure to a primary insult which leads to an augmented response upon stimulation with the same ligand after returning to a non-activated state. Will habitual ingestion of plant protein combined with PA results in increased ability of macrophages to undertake innate immune train in adults over the age of 65. Effects will be quantified by comparing the presence of TNF alpha in human monocytes at baseline and following a 12-week intervention.
Blood hormone and metabolite profile	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	12-week change in fasting peripheral blood profile (insulin, leptin, glucose, amino acid, fatty acid)
Appetite by Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ)	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	The SNAQ questionnaire is used to assess an older adults usual appetite. The SNAQ is a self-administered questionnaires adapted from the Appetite, Hunger and Sensory Perception questionnaire (AHSP), an appetite assessment tool validated among community-dwelling older adults. It consists of 4 multiple choice statements, where an individual reads the beginning of the statement and is presented with 5 options that best describe their situation. Each question derives a score between 1 - 5 with lower scores indicating poorer appetite. The questionnaire scores between 4 - 20 with scores \</= 14 indicating poor appetite.
Standing height (cm)	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	Height will be measured in centimetres using a stadiometer. Participants will be measured barefoot and asked to take a full inhalation prior to stepping out from the device. Measurements are taken at the peak of the inhalation.
Motor Unit Number	To be assessed at baseline and following a 12-week intervention or control period	from muscle biopsy

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

FAU; 🇩🇪 Nuremberg, Germany

School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science; 🇮🇪 Dublin, Leinster, Ireland

UNIPD; 🇮🇹 Padova, Italy