CORRECTION OF PROTEIN-ENERGY MALNUTRITION IN OLDER ADULTS - EFFECTS OF A SHORT-TERM AEROBIC TRAINING-PROGRAM

Twenty malnourished subjects (average age 67 years old) treated by cyc lic enteral nutrition were assigned to an active or control group acco rding to whether they took part or not in a 3-week aerobic training pr ogram, Subjects underwent the following tests on d(0)-d(1) and d(20)-d (21): calculation of a global nutritional deficiency index (GND), bioe lectrical impedance analysis, evaluation of daily energy expenditures using a 24 h heart rate (HR) recorder and a pedometer, maximal volunta ry isometric strength assessment (MVIS), and symptoms limited maximal oxygen uptake ((V) over dot/O-2 max SL estimation. Although energy int akes were similar in both groups, active subjects showed greater impro vements (P < 0.05) than control subjects regarding GND (-9.8 vs -4.8%) , serum albumin and prealbumin. Active subjects also showed a greater increase (P < 0.05) in pedometer readings compared to control subjects . Reduction of resting HR was observed in active (-5 beat/mn, P < 9.05 ) whereas no significant changes in average HR were noted in either gr oup, reflecting increased metabolic activity. Compared to control, act ive subjects showed significant (P < 0.05) improvements in MVIS (0.8 v s 0.1 N/kg) and (V) over dot O-2 max SL (5.5 vs 1.4 mL/min/kg). Short- term aerobic training has positive effects on nutritional recovery and functional capacities in elderly malnourished subjects and should be recommended whenever possible.