Preventing effects of exopolymers purified from Aureobasidium pullulans (EAP) supplementation and resistance exercise on muscle aging and loss in the Korean elderly: a randomized controlled trial

Objective In this study, an analysis was performed to observe the effect of resistance exercise and exopolymers purified from Aureobasidium pullulans (EAP) intake for 12 weeks on muscle reduction and improvement of muscle function in the elderly. Methods A total of 45 elderly individuals (age distribution: 60-78 years; average age: 67.24 years) were randomized into 15 subjects in the high-dosage (1 g/d) intake and exercise group, 15 subjects in the low-dosage (0.5 g/d) intake and exercise group, and 15 subjects in the placebo intake and exercise group. Body composition, physical strength, isokinetic muscle function, blood lipids and blood pressure, and muscle metabolism-related hormones were measured in all three groups before and after the same 12-week exercise-nutrition program. Results Resistance exercise for 12 weeks and 1 g/day intake of EAP improved physical strength, isokinetic muscle function, blood lipids, blood pressure, and some parameters related to muscle metabolism. In the hormones related to muscle metabolism, the catabolic hormones CK and LDH significantly decreased (p < 0.05), and otherwise, the anabolic hormone GH significantly increased (p < 0.05). Conclusion It was confirmed that resistance exercise and EAP intake for 12 weeks can have positive and synergistic effects on muscle reduction and muscle improvement in the elderly.