The effect of dietary supplements on frailty in older persons: a meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Frailty is a geriatric syndrome that predicts the onset of disability, morbidity and mortality in elderly people; it is a state of pre-disability and is reversible. This review aimed to assess the impact of dietary supplementation interventions in frail older adults. A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases was performed to collect randomized controlled trials of dietary supplements for the treatment of frailty in the elderly published before March 2022. The frailty score, muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance of the frail elderly were extracted for analysis. Metaanalysis was performed using Review Manager Version 5.4 and Stata version 15.0. Totally, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria, with 1204 participants (603 experiment group vs. 601 control group). Compared to control group, multi-nutrient nutrition intervention can significantly improve the frailty score of the elderly (MD = -0.19, 95% CI: -0.38 to -0.01, P = 0.04, I2 = 0). Protein supplementation intervention significantly improved body weight (MD = 4.86, 95% CI: 1.21 to 8.52, P = 0.009), muscle mass [lean mass (MD = 2.73, 95% CI:1.26 to 4.20, P = 0.0003)], muscle strength (MD = 1.90, 95% CI: 0.68 to 3.12, P = 0.002), and physical performance [chair stand test (MD = -2.15, 95% CI: -3.21 to -1.10, P < 0.0001)] in frail older adults compared to control. This meta-analysis and systematic review suggests that dietary supplements interventions positively influence in older people with frailty.

Association between Vitamin C Supplements and Frailty in Korean Older Adults: Analysis of the 2018–2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys

“…In a study conducted in Korea, the frail group had signi cantly lower intakes of vitamins A, B1, B2, E, C, calcium, and protein than the robust and pre-frail groups [9]. A meta-analysis reported an association between a reduced intake of vitamins B6, C, E, and folic acid and the risk of frailty [10]. The 'Invecchiare (ageing) in Chianti' (InCHIANTI) study also explained that low protein intake, vitamins B9, C, D, E and protein increases the risk of frailty [11].…”