Evaluating the efficacy of microbial enzyme supplementation as a novel strategy to promote healthy aging

Deutz, Max T.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129741 Copy

Description

Title

Evaluating the efficacy of microbial enzyme supplementation as a novel strategy to promote healthy aging

Author(s)

Deutz, Max T.

Issue Date

2025-04-29

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Burd, Nicholas

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Allen, Jacob

Committee Member(s)

• Khan, Naiman
• McGlory, Chris

Department of Study

Nutritional Sciences

Discipline

Nutritional Sciences

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• aging
• enzymes
• amino acids
• fatty acids
• glucose
• nutrition

Abstract

The physiological aging process is characterized by numerous deleterious effects, not the least of which is the progressive loss of skeletal muscle size and function. Defined as sarcopenia (in Greek, “loss of flesh”), these changes can begin as early as the 4th decade of life and may progress toward muscle mass reductions that equate to 50% of total muscle mass being lost by the 8th decade of life. Considering older adults are highly dependent on muscle mass and strength to counteract physical frailty, reduced mobility, or other losses in functional independence, strategies to support its maintenance are foundational in the preservation of their overall quality of life. A ‘healthy’ diet, particularly one rich in protein (~1.2 g·kg-1·d-1), is typically viewed as a principal strategy to accompany habitual physical activity / exercise (e.g., resistance training) in the pursuit of mitigating these declines. In addition to adverse outcomes related to skeletal muscle, aging is also associated with impairment of normative physiological digestive processes. These alterations commonly lead to unfavorable downstream impacts such as GI distress, the reduced bioavailability of ingested nutrients, and likely, compromised muscle health. Suitably, novel solutions such as supplementation with exogenous enzymes has been suggested as an exploratory approach to potentially counter age-related losses in muscle mass and strength. To date, supplemental enzyme research has largely targeted either 1) subjective measures in older adults suffering from GI-related concerns, or 2) aminoacidemia and isolated protein-specific measures in younger adults who are healthy. Consequently, additional research that pairs these two areas together to provide objective insights on how exogenous multi-enzyme supplementation might impact older adults who are otherwise healthy is warranted. Accordingly, the work contained within this dissertation sought to provide such insights through the first known examination assessing how a blend of six diverse supplemental enzymes (ENZ) provided alongside a whole food-based mixed meal would impact plasma nutrient concentrations and subjective measures of appetite, gastrointestinal health, and sleep in healthy, middle-aged and older adults. Overall, our findings were mixed but did demonstrate elevated plasma concentrations of a) ‘early phase’ amino acids, b) total fatty acids, and c) glucose for the ENZ treatment when contrasted against a comparative placebo. Further, these findings were supported by similar condition-significant differences in perceptions of several appetite measures and perceived strength. With an aging population that is growing at a rapid rate (i.e., the number of individuals over 80 years old is anticipated triple by 2050), these results are particularly timely and serve as a platform for future growth in research that seeks to advance the narrative on how enzyme supplementation could potentially be used as a novel strategy to support healthy aging.

Graduation Semester

2025-05

Type of Resource

Thesis

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129741

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2025 Max Deutz

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