journal articles
CAN A PREBIOTIC FORMULATION REDUCE FRAILTY LEVELS IN OLDER PEOPLE?
O. Theou, K. Jayanama, J. Fernández-Garrido, C. Buigues, L. Pruimboom, A.J. Hoogland, R. Navarro-Martínez, K. Rockwood, O. Cauli
J Frailty Aging 2019;8(1):48-52
Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine whether a prebiotic formulation reduces frailty index (FI) levels in older people. Design: We conducted secondary analysis of a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind design study. Setting/Participants: The study included non-demented people over the age of 65 who were living in nursing homes and were able to walk. Fifty participants completed the study (75.3±7.3 years, 70% females). Intervention: Participants were randomly assigned to either a group who received daily Darmocare Pre® (inulin and fructooligosaccharides) for 13 weeks or a placebo group (maltodextrin). Measurement: The primary outcome in this secondary analysis was change in level of a 62-item FI compared to baseline. Results: At the 13-week follow-up, the placebo group had higher FI levels (preFI 0.23±0.11, postFI 0.24±0.12, p=0.012) and the intervention group had lower FI levels (preFI 0.22±0.09, postFI 0.20±0.08, p<0.001). There was an average increase of 0.01±0.01 in the FI score in the placebo group (0.4 deficits; Cohen’s d 0.61; standardized response mean 0.59) and an average reduction of 0.02±0.02 in the intervention group (1.1 deficits; Cohen’s d -1.35; standardized response mean -1.16). Among the 28 participants in the intervention group, FI levels were reduced for 25 people; five of them had an FI reduction greater than 0.03. The moderately/severely frail participants (FI >0.3, N=5) had the greatest reduction in their FI (0.04±0.01). Conclusion: A prebiotic intervention can reduce frailty levels in nursing home residents especially in those with higher levels of frailty.
CITATION:
O. Theou ; K. Jayanama ; J. Fernández-Garrido ; C. Buigues ; L. Pruimboom ; A.J. Hoogland ; R. Navarro-Martínez ; K. Rockwood ; O. Cauli (2018): Can a prebiotic formulation reduce frailty levels in older people?. The Journal of Frailty and Aging (JFA). http://dx.doi.org/10.14283/jfa.2018.39