Effect of a combined exercise and nutrition program on sarcopenia in older adults: a randomised controlled trial in primary care

Background Sarcopenia, marked by the progressive decline of skeletal muscle mass and strength, is a significant health issue in aging populations. Primary care-based interventions may offer effective management strategies, yet randomised controlled trials evaluating these interventions are limited. Methods We conducted an unblinded, parallel-group randomised controlled trial at a public health centre in Korea responsible for primary care, enrolling participants aged ≥65 years with sarcopenia. Participants were randomised to either an intervention group (receiving a 12-week program of group exercises and nutritional support) or a control group (receiving lifestyle management education). The primary outcome was the change in gait speed over the intervention period. Secondary outcomes included changes in physical performance, grip strength, muscle mass, quality of life and frailty index. Results A total of 86 participants were enrolled and randomised (intervention group: n = 43; control group: n = 43). The intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in gait speed (0.14 m/s (95% CI: 0.10–0.18) vs −0.04 m/s (95% CI: −0.08–0.00), P < 0.001), Short Physical Performance Battery scores, grip strength, quality of life and frailty index compared with the control group. Conclusion The 12-week exercise and nutrition intervention yielded significant gains in physical performance, grip strength, quality of life and frailty reduction among community-dwelling older adults with sarcopenia. These findings support the value of community-based, multicomponent interventions for managing sarcopenia. The trial is registered at Clinical Research Information Service (http://cris.nih/go.kr, registration number: KCT0008952).