A clinical trial has revealed citrus and pomegranate complex improve the physical fitness and mental well-being in elderlies.
The key findings of the study were an improvement in handgrip strength, a measure of physical fitness, and psychological functioning facets, such as thinking, memory, learning, and concentration.
The study, published in the Journal of Nutrition Health & Ageing, was conducted by researchers associated with Maastricht University in The Netherlands, as well as with the ingredient supplier BioActor BV, which manufactured the test product.
The new study investigated whether daily supplementation with 700mg of Citrus and Pomegranate Complex (CPC) would affect physical fitness and psychological functioning in a healthy elderly population.
The test product is standardised for its content in highly bioavailable 2S-hesperidin, an important citrus flavonoid which already showed in previous BioActors'studies the efficacy in improving blood flow and sports performances in both highly trained and recreational athletes.
As life expectancy increases rapidly, the elderly population is growing in numbers. Ageing is one of the main risk factors for a wide variety of diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline and reduced physical function.
We are pleased with the results of this clinical trial, which includes improvements both in physical fitness and mental well-being
The study included 36 active seniors aged between 60-75 years old. The design of the clinical trial was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. All participants received both treatments and placebo: four weeks of supplementation with CPC and four weeks of supplementation with the placebo, separated by a washout period of 4 to 8 weeks.
The study results indicate that four weeks of daily CPC supplementation significantly improved handgrip strength in healthy elderly.Handgrip strength is an important measure of physical fitness associated with reduced all-cause mortality, as well as increased cognitive function, mobility, and functional status.
According to the researchers, a potential mechanism that might be associated with improving handgrip strength is improved mitochondrial function. In fact, the role of hesperetin, the main active metabolite of the CPC, in mitochondrial functioning, increased intracellular ATP production, and mitochondrial spare capacity was already observed in vitro.
"With age, the number and functionality of mitochondria decreases. Dysfunctional mitochondria have reduced the capacity for producing ATP - our muscles principal energy source. Therefore, the next step is to confirm the effect of CPC on mitochondrial biogenesis and functionality in humans in vivo", the researchers commented.
These results have piqued our interest regarding potential underlying mechanisms of action, which are currently being investigated in our new clinical trial
In addition to the handgrip strength, also psychological function improved after the 4 weeks of supplementation with CPC.
Specifically, the researchers found a significantly higher score for the treatment group than the placebo in the thinking, memory, learning, and concentration facet. Overall, the study results suggest that CPC consumption results in improved physical performance and better quality of life, which are two crucial factors in successful ageing.
"We are pleased with the results of this clinical trial, which includes improvements both in physical fitness and mental well-being, as well as improved oxidative stress markers. These results have piqued our interest regarding potential underlying mechanisms of action, which are currently being investigated in our new clinical trial," said Sanne Ahles, Clinical Researcher at BioActor.
