53 12-weeks of high-protein mediterranean-style diet and resistance exercise improve mediterranean-diet score and sarcopenia-related quality of life (SarQol) in cardiac rehabilitation participants

<h3>Background</h3> Sarcopenia, the age-associated loss of muscle mass and strength, is correlated with increased risk of cardiometabolic disease and reduced quality of life (QOL). Augmenting muscle mass and strength via resistance exercise (RE) and elevated protein intake may be a suitable strategy for reducing CVD risk and improving QOL in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participants. Mediterranean-style dietary (MedDiet) approaches have also shown promise for both primary and secondary prevention of CVD. <h3>Aim</h3> To determine the feasibility of a high-protein Mediterranean-style diet and resistance exercise in CR patients, and to determine its effects on anthropometrics, sarcopenia related QOL (SarQol) and Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) score. <h3>Methods</h3> CR participants (n=28) were recruited from phase-3 and self-selected their intervention for phase 4 (community-based CR): standard CR (control, n=10), or a MedDiet supplemented with 50g/day of dairy protein (Optimum Nutrition high protein shake) and 3 weekly sessions of progressively overloaded full-body resistance exercise (intervention, n=18). Anthropometrics, MedDiet and SarQol scores were measured before and after the 12-week intervention. Data was analysed using 2-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) (time as within-subject condition × treatment as between-subject condition). <h3>Results</h3> Twenty participants completed the 12-week intervention. The MedDiet score improved only in the intervention group (effects of time and treatment: p&lt;0.05, interaction: p&lt;0.01). QoL improved in both groups (effect of time: p&lt;0.001). There was a significant effect by interaction on waist circumference (effect of interaction: p&lt;0.01). There were no other significant differences between groups. <h3>Conclusion</h3> These results indicate that guidance to follow a high-protein Mediterranean-style diet, and to complete 3 weekly sessions of resistance exercise, has comparable effects to standard CR and leads to improved MedDiet scores. Further research is warranted to investigate the wider benefits of such interventions in CR participants.