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

Kohei Takeda; Kiyoji Tanaka; Naomi Omi; Osamu Numata; Hiroyuki Sasai; Tohru Takemasa

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

VernacularTitle:茶葉由来高分子ポリフェノール摂取が運動習慣のある中高齢女性の生活体力年齢に及ぼす影響：ランダム化比較試験
Author: Kohei TAKEDA ¹ ; Kiyoji TANAKA ² ; Naomi OMI ¹ ; Osamu NUMATA ¹ ; Hiroyuki SASAI ³ ; Tohru TAKEMASA ⁴
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1. Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba
2. School of Political Science and Economics, Meiji University
3. Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba
4. Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology
Keywords: mitochondria activation factor (MAF); exercise; physical fitness age; bone mineral density; fat mass
From:Japanese Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine 2021;70(3):199-205
CountryJapan
Language:Japanese
Abstract: 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.