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https://ptsldigital.ukm.my/jspui/handle/123456789/519854| Title: | Efficacy of L-Carnitine supplementation on frailty status and its biomarkers, physical function, nutritional status and body composition among prefail older adults in Klang Valley |
| Authors: | Badrasawi Manal M.H. (P65543) |
| Supervisor: | Suzana Shahar, Prof. Dr. |
| Keywords: | Public Health Older Adults Body composition Nutritional status Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia -- Dissertations Dissertations, Academic -- Malaysia |
| Issue Date: | 26-May-2016 |
| Description: | Frailty is a biological syndrome of decreased reserve and resistance to stressors due to decline in multiple physiological systems. Though Malaysia is witnessing an increase in the percentage of elderly people with higher life expectancy, frailty prevalence and its risk factors have not been thoroughly studied among Malaysian elderly. L-carnitine is an amino acid fundamental to cellular energy metabolism. There is a proposed relationship between L-carnitine deficiency and frailty, due to the similarities between frailty and l-carnitine deficiency symptoms. Nevertheless, the association between the L-carnitine serum level and frailty has not been documented. Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of frailty among Malaysian elderly. Further, the efficacy of L-carnitine supplement on frailty status and its biomarkers, physical function, nutritional status and body composition among a sub sample of prefrail older adults in Klang Valley, Malaysia. This study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 was a cross sectional study to determine the frailty prevalence and its related risk factors, involving 473 older adults (210 men and 263 women) randomly chosen from 10 different areas in Klang valley, and fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Phase 2 was a randomized placebo controlled clinical trial aimed to determine the efficacy of a 10 week L-carnitine supplementation (1.5 gm/day) on frailty status among 50 prefrail subjects randomized into two groups (26 in L-carnitine group and 24 in placebo group). Outcome measures including frailty status, physical function, cognitive function, nutritional status, dietary intake and biochemical status were measured at baseline, 5 and 10 weeks. Results showed that the prevalence of frailty was 8.9%, and prefrailty was 61.7%. Binary logistic regression analyses indicated that women, individuals with abdominal obesity, low peak flow score, slow rapid pace were significant predictors of frailty. In Phase 2, the intervention showed a favourable effect of L-carnitine supplementation on frailty status and hand grip, however, it was not significant using repeated measures ANOVA analysis. However, Mann Whitney test analyses for the percentages of mean change revealed significant improvements in frailty status (p <0.01) and hand grip (p < 0.05) among subjects supplemented with L-carninitne as compared to placebo. In conclusion, frailty affected three quarter of subjects, with gender and other modifiable risk factors including abdominal obesity and poor physical function had been identified. L-carnitine supplementation has the potential to improve functional status but probably combination with physical intervention would lead to a better outcome. There is a need to embark on holistic intervention of nutrition and physical activity in order to improve frailty among older adults.,Ph.D. |
| Pages: | 331 |
| Call Number: | WA20.5.B138e 2016 9 tesis |
| Publisher: | UKM, Kuala Lumpur |
| Appears in Collections: | Faculty of Health Sciences / Fakulti Sains Kesihatan |
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| ukmvital_97467+Source01+Source010.PDF Restricted Access | 151.62 kB | Adobe PDF |  View/Open |
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