Affiliation:
1. Institute of Women's Health Science, Showa Women's University, Tokyo, Japan
2. Day Care SKY, Yokohama, Japan
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Supplementation with medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) was previously shown to increase muscle function in frail elderly individuals.
Objective
We aimed to assess effects of MCTs on cognition in such individuals.
Methods
We enrolled 64 elderly nursing home residents (85.5 ± 6.8 y; 13 men, 51 women; BMI 18.6 ± 2.5 kg/m2) in a 3-mo randomized, controlled, single-blinded, intervention trial. Participants were randomly allocated to 3 groups: the first group received supplemental L-leucine (1.2 g) and cholecalciferol (20 μg) enriched with 6 g/d of MCTs (LD + MCT group) as a positive control, the second group received 6 g/d of MCTs (MCT group) as the test nutrient, and the third group received 6 g/d of long-chain triglycerides (LCT group) as a negative control. Cognition (secondary outcome) was monitored 4 times: baseline, 1.5 and 3 mo after initiation of the intervention (intervention), and 1.5 mo after termination of the intervention (postintervention follow-up). Cognition scores were assessed by a linear mixed model (intention-to-treat analysis).
Results
MCT supplementation increased the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score by 3.5 points at the 3-mo intervention from baseline (P < 0.001) [intention-to-treat adjusted means: baseline 17.5 points (95% CI: 14.9, 20.2), 3-mo intervention 21.0 points (18.3, 23.7)], whereas LCT supplementation decreased the MMSE score by −0.7 points [baseline 17.0 points (95% CI: 14.4, 19.6), 3-mo intervention 16.3 points (13.6, 18.9)]. At the 3-mo intervention, the difference in MMSE score between the MCT (21.0 points) and LCT (16.3 points) groups became significant (P < 0.05). The increase in MMSE score in response to MCTs was 2.1-fold greater at 3 mo than at 1.5 mo and had returned to baseline value at the 4.5-mo postintervention follow-up visit.
Conclusion
Supplementation with 6 g MCTs/d may improve the cognition of frail elderly individuals. This trial was registered at umin.ac.jp as UMIN000023302.
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Subject
Nutrition and Dietetics,Medicine (miscellaneous)
Cited by
16 articles.
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