Blue Whiting Protein Hydrolysates and Sarcopenia Outcomes in Older Adults Residing in Residential Care Facilities (SARCO_CARE)

Sarcopenia is a progressive and generalised skeletal muscle disorder involving the accelerated loss of muscle mass and function that is associated with increase adverse outcomes including falls, functional decline, frailty and mortality. Diet, specifically protein has been proposed to have a role in the prevention and treatment of muscle loss in the older adult population nevertheless there is paucity of research on the effect of protein supplementation on lean body mass and other clinical outcomes in older adults, and especially those in residential care where the prevalence of muscle loss and weakness is reported to be high This 2-arm parallel, double-blind, randomised, controlled dietary supplement human intervention study aims to investigate the effect of consuming 12.5g (twice daily) Blue Whiting Protein Hydrolysates daily for 6 weeks on whole body lean mass tissue and measures of muscle strength and functionality in free living community dwelling older adults. A total of 184 participants (92 per group) is required based on a previous study by Norton et al (2015) Participants will be stratified by age, gender and BMI and randomly allocated to consume two sachets of either the BWPH powder daily (12.5g at lunch and dinner (Total 25g)), (mixed with an everyday food / drink product (provided by Ulster University) or an isocalorific maltodextrin citrus flavoured powder (Control) (mixed with an everyday food / drink product).

Assessments to be undertaken pre and post intervention include; body composition including lean mass tissue by Tanita body composition monitor, hand grip strength, a 'timed get up and go' test, chair stand test, blood pressure measurements, a habitual dietary intake questionnaire, quality of life questionnaire, SARC-F (screening tool for sarcopenia) and an MNA questionnaire (mini nutritional assessment). A trained phlebotomist will obtain a 40ml max blood sample from each participant pre and post intervention. Blood samples will be used to measure markers associated with sarcopenia (serum 25(OH)D, pro inflammatory cytokine profile, full lipid profiles and kidney and liver profiles).

All researchers taking physical measurements will be trained in the correct procedure and will follow a standardised protocol whilst taking all measurements. All physical measurements will be taken with the participant wearing light clothing (without footwear). Measurements will be taken pre- and post-intervention unless otherwise stated. All measurements for each participant will be recorded on a single data collection sheet.

Height and weight will be measured to determine BMI (kg/m2). Standing height (m) will be measured (pre-intervention only) to the nearest 0.5cm using a calibrated stadiometer (SECA, Model 220, Germany). Body weight (kg) will be recorded without footwear or heavy clothing and measured to the nearest 0.1kg using portable scales (Seca; Brosch Direct Ltd, Peterborough, UK).

A Tanita body composition monitor will use bioelectrical impedance analysis to estimate body composition in all participants, except in those with pacemakers because of the electrical current used.