Abstract
PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of moderate-to-heavy exercise training combined with weighted vest and chicken protein supplementation in older adult females. METHODS: Fifty-two female participants, 60-79 yearsold, were randomly divided into three groups: control (non-exercise) (CON), exercise with weighted vest (WV), and exercise with weighted vest and protein supplementation (3 g of protein daily; WVP).A ll participants performed brisk walking and strengthening exercises for 50 min/day, three times/week, for 8 weeks. Muscle mass, bone mineral content, T-score, and physical performance were measured. RESULTS: The WVP group demonstrated a substantial increase in thoracic spine bone mineral content (8.4 ± 7.7 g, p = 0.001), and total body lean mass (0.2 ± 1.0 kg) compared with that in the other two groups. The CON and WV groups showed a decrease in thoracic spine bone mineral content (CON= -1.8 ± 1.8, WV= -3.9 ± 0.1 g) and total body lean mass (CON= -0.7 ± 0.9, WV= -0.8 ± 0.9 kg) compared with those in the WVP group. The WVP and WV groups had increased T-score (WVP= 0.01 ± 0.16, WV= 0.02 ± 0.18) when compared with that of the CON group (-0.19 ± 0.12). Both the WV and WVP groups displayed improved physical performance compared with that of the CON group. CONCLUSION: Combined exercise with either a weighted vest or protein supplementation proved to be effective in protecting against trunk bone and muscle mass loss, and improving physical fitness in older female adults.