Increasing age is associated with chronic low-grade inflammatory profile (CLIP). CLIP has known association with sarcopenia in older adults. Protein and vitamin D are known to have immune-modulatory potential.

Recently, a study assessed whether 13 weeks of nutritional supplementation with vitamin D and leucine-enriched whey protein affects CLIP in subjects enrolled in the PROVIDE study.

Investigators randomized sarcopenic adults (low skeletal muscle mass), aged 65 years and above, with mobility limitations (Short Physical Performance Battery 4-9) and a body mass index of 20-30 kg/m2 to two daily servings of active (n = 137; 20 g whey protein, 3 g leucine and 800 IU vitamin D) or isocaloric control product (n = 151) for 13 weeks. The parameters measured at baseline and after 13 weeks included circulating interleukin (IL)-8, IL-1 receptor antagonist (RA), soluble tumor-necrosis-factor receptor (sTNFR)1, IL-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, pre-albumin and 25-hydroxyvitamin(OH)D. Data-analysis included repeated measures analysis of covariance (corrected for dietary vitamin D intake) and linear regression.

IL-6 and IL-1Ra serum levels increased after 13 weeks (p = 0.006 and p < 0.001, respectively). A significant time × treatment interaction (p = 0.046) was noted for IL-6, with no significant change in the active group (p = 0.155) compared to control (significant increase p = 0.012). IL-8 decreased significantly (p = 0.03). Change in pre-albumin significantly predicted changes in IL-6 after 13 weeks.

Supplementation with vitamin D and leucine-enriched whey protein for 13 weeks thus appears to diminish the progression of CLIP in older sarcopenic adults with mobility limitations.

Reference

1. Liberman K, Njemini R, Luiking Y, et al. Thirteen weeks of supplementation of vitamin D and leucine-enriched whey protein nutritional supplement attenuates chronic low-grade inflammation in sarcopenic older adults: the PROVIDE study. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2019 Jun;31(6):845-854.