Change in inflammatory parameters in prefrail and frail persons obtaining physical training and nutritional support provided by lay volunteers: A randomized controlled trial

PLoS One. 2017 Oct 12;12(10):e0185879. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185879. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare the effects of home visits with physical training and nutritional support on inflammatory parameters to home visits with social support alone within a randomized controlled trial. Prefrail and frail persons received home visits from lay volunteers twice a week for 12 weeks. Participants in the physical training and nutritional intervention group (PTN, n = 35) conducted two sets of six strength exercises and received nutritional support. The social support group (SoSu, n = 23) received visits only. TNF-α, IL-6, CRP, and total leukocyte count were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. Changes over time within groups were analyzed with paired t-tests; differences between groups were analyzed with ANCOVA for repeated measurements. In the PTN group, IL-6 and CRP remained stable, whereas in the SoSu group, IL-6 increased significantly from a median value of 2.6 pg/l (min-max = 2.0-10.2) to 3.0 pg/l (min-max = 2.0-20.8), and CRP rose from 0.2 mg/dl (min-max = 0.1-0.9) to 0.3 mg/dl (min-max = 0.1-3.0) after 12 weeks. In CRP, a significant difference between groups was found. TNF-α and total leukocyte count did not change in either the PTN group or the SoSu group. Persons showing an increase in physical performance (OR 4.54; 95% CI = 1.33-15.45) were more likely to have constant or decreased IL-6 values than persons who showed no improvement. In conclusion, in non-robust older adults, a physical training and nutritional support program provided by lay volunteers can delay a further increase in some inflammatory parameters.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism*
  • Exercise Therapy*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Frail Elderly*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / blood
  • Inflammation / physiopathology
  • Inflammation / therapy
  • Interleukin-6 / blood*
  • Male
  • Nutritional Support
  • Social Support*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / blood*

Substances

  • IL6 protein, human
  • Interleukin-6
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • C-Reactive Protein

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the `Vienna Science and Technology Fund' (grant number: LS12-039). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.