Community-based exercise and nutritional interventions to improve frailty syndrome among older adults: A quasi-experimental study

This study aimed to explore the efficacy of single and combined effects of exercise and branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplements on improving frailty and quality of life in older adults. In total, 120 study partici-pants were allocated into a combined exercise-and-BCAA supplementation group, an exercise-only group, a BCAA supplementation-only group, and a control group. Results showed that Fried's frailty score significantly decreased in the combined exercise-and-BCAA supplementation group (b=-1.73, p<0.001), exercise-only group (b=-1.68, p<0.001), and BCAA supplementation-only group (b=-0.73, p=0.005) compared to the con-trol group. Moreover, the combination of exercise and BCAA supplements and the exercise-only program produced significant improvements in frailty compared to the BCAA supplement-only group and control group (p<0.05). Exercise should be a critical approach for older adults to improve frailty. Healthcare profes-sionals in geriatric care should incorporate exercise programs as frailty management and prevention for older adults.(c) 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.