The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of eight weeks resistance training, Epicatechin supplementation and the combined effect of these two interventions on plasma levels of Myostatin and Follistatin in sarcopenic older adults. The present study is semi-experimental and developmental with pre-test and post-test design. Inclusion criteria consist of sarcopenic, non-athletic elderly males aged 65-75 years and exclusion criteria consist of the history of special diseases and the use of any type of drug or supplement.
A week prior to the initial tests, all participants will attend an orientation session in which they will be informed about the objectives and methods of conducting the research by exercise science specialists. Initial tests will be performed in the morning a week before the study to select qualified people and homogenize groups. Their height, weight, body mass index, AMMI, mobility, the degree of involvement in physical activities, health condition, and isotonic maximal strength will be measured and 56 subjects randomly will assign to 4 groups (using the table of random numbers method): resistance training+placebo (n=13), resistance training+epicatechin (n=14), epicatechin (n=15) and placebo (n=14).
Forty-eight hours before the 8-week intervention, fasting blood samples will be taken from participants’ arm vein to evaluate the study variables. Then, subjects of the training groups will perform the training protocol 3 days a week at 5 p.m. for eight weeks. During the same time, individuals in the supplement groups will take epicatechin supplements at 4 p.m. every day (1mg/kg/day). In order to control the psychological effects of taking the supplement, members of the placebo group will receive placebo capsules (starch) which are similar to the epicatechin capsules in terms of shape and color. The subjects of the placebo group will not participate in any exercise training during the intervention time. Fasting blood samples will be obtained from all the participants two days following the last training session (hence, posttest).