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In a randomized controlled trial involving 155 community-dwelling elderly sarcopenic women aged 75 years and older living in Japan, exercise and amino acid supplementation together were found to be associated with improved muscle mass, muscle strength, and walking speed. Subjects were randomized to one of four groups: exercise plus amino acids; exercise alone; amino acids alone; or health education. Exercise consisted of twice weekly attending a 60 minute training program, and the amino acid supplementation consisted of 3 g of a leucine-rich essential amino acid mixture, twice/daily, for 3 months. Results found that the exercise plus amino acid supplementation group experienced the greatest benefits, particularly in leg muscle mass and knee extension strength. The authors conclude, "The data suggest that exercise and AAS together may be effective in enhancing not only muscle strength, but also combined variables of muscle mass and walking speed and of muscle mass and strength in sarcopenic women." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study involving 87 elderly women (mean age: 76.6 years), results indicate that DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) supplementation in combination with exercise may improve lower extremity strength and function. The women received calcium and cholecalciferol and participated in 90-minute twice-weekly exercise regimens, in addition to supplementation with DHEA (50 mg/d) or placebo for a period of 6 months. At intervention end, significant gains in lower extremity strength were observed in the DHEA group, along with improvement in Short Physical Performance Battery score, a composite score that focuses on lower extremity function. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "DHEA supplementation improved lower extremity strength and function in older, frail women involved in a gentle exercise program of chair aerobics or yoga." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "In Elderly Men with Poor Physical Function, Increased Physical Activity May Significantly Reduce the Risk of Dementia" is presented.

An abstract of the article "Effect of Amino Acid Supplementation on Muscle Mass, Strength and Physical Function in Elderly," by E. Borsheim, R. R. Wolfe and others is presented.

An abstract of the study "Oxidative Stress and Severe Walking Disability among Older Women," by R. D. Semba and colleagues published in the 2007 issue of the "American Journal of Medicine" is presented.

An abstract of the article "Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) Treatment in Elderly Patients With Fatigue," by M. Malaguarnera and colleagues, published in the July 19, 2007 issue of "Archives of Gerontology & Geriatrics," is presented.

An abstract of the article "Mindfulness Meditation Improves Pain Acceptance and Physical Function in Older Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain" is presented.

The article presents an abstract of the study "Massage Therapy for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Randomized Controlled Trial," by A. I. Perlman, A. Sabina et al., which was published in a 2006 issue of the journal "Archives of Internal Medicine."