Effects of high-molecular-weight polyphenol supplementation on physical fitness age in physically active middle-aged and older women: Randomized controlled trial / 体力科学

Mitochondria activation factor (MAF) which is high-molecular weight polyphenol contained in black tea and oolong tea can increase the mitochondrial membrane potential. MAF supplementation to mice facilitates endurance running performance after 9-week endurance training and muscle hypertrophy induced by synergist ablation. In this study, we examined the effect of oral MAF supplementation on overall physical fitness (expressed as physical fitness age) in physically active middle-aged and older women. This study is a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial implemented between January and May 2019 at three fitness facilities in Ibaraki, Japan. Seventy middle-aged women aged 55 to 69 years were randomly assigned into placebo (n = 35) and MAF groups (n = 35). The placebo participants took cornstarch-containing capsules, and the MAF participants took MAF-containing capsules twice a day for 80 days consecutively. During the intake period, all participants were instructed to follow 30-min circuit training program at least twice a week. Physical fitness age was computed with eight physical fitness items assessing upper-extremity muscle strength, locomotion, and postural change. The physical fitness age decreased by 1.48 years (95% confidence interval [CI]: -2.66, -0.30) in the placebo group and 3.01 years (95% CI: -4.16, -1.86) in the MAF group. The reduction was greater in the MAF group, but did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.06). The combination of 80-day of MAF intake and circuit exercise showed beneficial results. However, our results did not indicate clear effects on physical fitness age because of low statistical power. Further studies are necessary to reveal the effects of MAF supplementation.

EFFECTS OF CHANGE IN DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DURING AN EXERCISE INTERVENTION ON VITAL AGE AND PHYSICAL FITNESS AGE / 体力科学

<b>Purpose</b>：The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of change in daily physical activity during an exercise intervention on health status and physical fitness.<b>Methods</b>：Participants were 22 obese middle-aged men (BMI : 29.1±2.8 kg/m², 54.1±11.4 yr). They performed 90-min exercise sessions on a regular basis 3 days per week for 3 months. Physical activity (total energy expenditure, TEE ; activity energy expenditure, AEE ; and step counts) was measured using an accelerometer. Daily physical activity was defined as that which was performed outside of the exercise class. A 3-day food record was used to estimate energy intake. <b>Results</b>：Body weight decreased (-3.0±2.5 kg, <i>P</i>＜0.05). Vital age (VA), an index of comprehensive health status, and physical fitness age (PFA), an index of comprehensive physical fitness, significantly improved (VA : -8.7±5.5 yr, PFA : -8.5±5.1 yr, <i>P</i>＜0.05). Energy intake remained unchanged during the intervention (＋63.7±546.1 kcal/d). Daily physical activity increased (TEE : ＋83.0±130.1 kcal/d, AEE : ＋76.9±103.3 kcal/d, step counts : ＋1789±2819 steps/d, <i>P</i>＜0.05). Change in daily physical activity was correlated with change in VA (AEE : r＝-0.52, step counts : r＝-0.46, <i>P</i>＜0.05), while change in daily physical activity did not correlate with change in PFA. <b>Conclusion</b>：These results suggest that changes in daily physical activity during an exercise intervention are associated with improved health status.

Assessment of physical fitness age in middle-aged and elderly men / 体力科学

Principal component analysis was used to estimate the physical fitness age (PFA) of middle-aged and elderly men from eight physical fitness variables. The subjects were 184 Japanese men, aged 20 to 75 years, who were recruited in a series of physical fitness tests including oxygen uptake corresponding to lactate threshold (Vo<SUB>2</SUB>@LT) and maximal oxygen uptake (Vo<SUB>2</SUB>max) . The subjects were categorized into three groups : those (n=134) considered apparently healthy, those (n=35) employed as a cross-validation sample, and 15 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) . The equation developed for estimation of PFA in healthy individuals (n=134) was PFA=-15.3 PFS+48.0+Z, PFS=0.021 X<SUB>1</SUB>+0.037 X<SUB>2</SUB>+0.020 X<SUB>3</SUB>+0.024 X<SUB>4</SUB>+0.017 X<SUB>5</SUB>+0.017 X<SUB>6</SUB>+0.008 X<SUB>7</SUB>+0.016 X<SUB>8</SUB>-4.92, Z =0.12 Age-5.8; where PFS=physical fitness score, X<SUB>1</SUB>=V<SUB>o2</SUB>max (m<I>l</I>/kg/min), X<SUB>2</SUB>=Vo<SUB>2</SUB>@LT (m<I>l</I>/kg/min), X<SUB>3</SUB>=grip strength (kg), X<SUB>4</SUB>=side step (reps/20s), X<SUB>5</SUB>=trunk extension (cm), X<SUB>6</SUB>=trunk flexion (cm), X<SUB>7</SUB>=foot balance with eyes closed (s), and X<SUB>8</SUB>=vertical jump (cm) . Analyses of the data revealed that healthy individuals had PFAs (47.7±17.5yr) similar to their chronological ages (CA: 48.0±15.3yr) . In the cross-validation sample, it was confirmed that no difference existed between PFA (51.5±13.8yr) and CA (52.1±11.8yr) . CHD patients, however, had PFAs approximately 15 years older than their CAs (57.7±11.5vs. 72.2±12.3yr) . Since independent variables of the above equation consisted of various physical fitness elements, we defined the score as an index of “physical fitness age”. The importance and usefulness of PFA were discussed in more detail.

Physical fitness age of middle-aged and elderly men with coronary heart disease and its changes following an exercise program / 体力科学

Biological age based on the assessment of various physiological factors measured in a resting state has been proposed as an appropriate index of aging. We have recently developed an equation for estimation of physical fitness age (PFA), which is composed of eight age-related physical fitness variables. These include oxygen uptake corresponding to lactate threshold (Vo<SUB>2</SUB>@LT), maximal oxygen uptake (Vo<SUB>2</SUB>max), side step, grip strength, vertical jump, foot balance with eyes closed, trunk extension, and trunk flexion. In this study, the validity of PFA as a critical index of physical health and/or aging status was investigated from a longitudinal standpoint on the assumption that exercise habituation does contribute to health promotion. The subjects were 14 Japanese middle-aged and elderly men, aged 50 to 70 years, all of whom were patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) . The subjects participated in a supervised exercise conditioning program for 90 to 120 min each session, 2 times weekly for 4 months. Analyses of the data indicated that the mean PFA of the subjects (66.0±9.0 yr) after conditioning was significantly (P<0.05) lower than the mean PFA (72.8±8.6 yr) obtained before conditioning. After the exercise program, significant increases were documented in Vo<SUB>2</SUB>@LT (17%), Vo<SUB>2</SUB>max (12%), side step (26%), trunk flexion (109%), trunk extension (7%), vertical jump (12%), and foot balance with eyes closed (31%) . Therefore, we conclude that our exercise conditioning program may alter the overall physical fitness of patients with CHD, and that PFA could be a valid physical health and/or aging index.