Blackcurrant Supplementation and Habitual Physical Activity Enhance Functional Capacity and Quality of Life in Previously Sedentary Older Women


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Abstract

Background:Loss of functional capacity negatively impacts the quality of life in older adults. Objective: This single-site randomized controlled study examined whether short- (one week) and long-term (three months) blackcurrant supplementations combined with habitual physical activity would improve functional capacity and quality of life in previously sedentary older women.

Methods:Thirty sedentary, healthy older women were randomly assigned to receive blackcurrant supplementation (400 mg of blackcurrant extract) (Polyphenol group, n=15; 74.2±10.0 years) or no supplementation (capsules of 400 mg of corn flour) (Placebo group, n=15; 72.8±8.7 years). Each group consumed two capsules daily for one week and three months, with a washout period of one week between the two phases. The polyphenol group was required to increase habitual activity levels. Participants underwent a functional capacity assessment consisting of a sixminute walk, sit-to-stand test, Berg balance scale measurement and quality of life evaluation with the Scale of Life Satisfaction Index (LSI) at the start, after one week, and after three months of supplementation.

Results:Walking distance and time to sit-to-stand improved by 2.5% (p=0.005) and 7.5% (p=0.005), respectively, after one week in the polyphenol group. After 3 months, walking distance in the six-minute walk test increased by 12.3% (p=0.001) while the time to sit-to-stand decreased by 16% (p=0.002) in polyphenol compared to placebo, respectively. No differences in Berg balance scale were observed. Quality of life, indexed by LSI, improved by 39% (p=0.001) in the polyphenol compared to the placebo group.

Conclusion:Blackcurrant supplementation, combined with habitual activity, may enhance functional capacity and quality of life in older women, offering a potential strategy to maintain independence. However, future studies should address longer durations to validate these findings.

About the authors

Stefania Chatzopoulou

Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Thessaly

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Eleftherios Dimitros

Exercise Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Marika Massaro

Quality of Life Studies, University of Bologna

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Antonio Cicchella

Quality of Life Studies, University of Bologna

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Athanasios Jamurtas

Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Evangelia Kouidi

Sports Medicine Laboratory, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Dimitrios Tsiptsios

Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Glen Kenny

Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit, University of Ottawa

Email: info@benthamscience.net

Antonia Kaltsatou

Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly

Author for correspondence.
Email: info@benthamscience.net

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