Effects of concurrent physical training combined with nutritional education on cellular senescence markers in older women with and without obesity

• Grant number: 24/10073-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2026
• End date: May 31, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutrition Biochemistry
• Principal Investigator: Ellen Cristini de Freitas
• Grantee: Sofia Germano Travieso
• Host Institution: Escola de Educação Física e Esporte de Ribeirão Preto (EEFERP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/11820-5 - Nr1d1 function on the aging-associated Sarcopenia, AP.TEM

Abstract

Introduction: Cellular senescence is a biological process characterized by the irreversible interruption of the cell cycle, accompanied by phenotypic changes that include the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, and chemokines, known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). This phenomenon contributes to tissue degradation and is associated with reduced functionality in older adults. Obesity, in turn, intensifies cellular senescence by promoting low-grade chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as accelerating telomere shortening. These processes worsen muscle health, increase the risk of frailty, and negatively impact the quality of life in this population. Rationale: Obesity accelerates cellular aging by intensifying inflammatory processes, metabolic dysfunctions, and loss of muscle mass, especially in older women. However, existing interventions often address isolated factors and analyze outcomes in a compartmentalized manner, limiting the integrated understanding of effects at the genetic, molecular, metabolic, functional, and body composition levels. Furthermore, few studies investigate older women with obesity, and even fewer compare the effects of interventions between older women with and without obesity. This study proposes a combined approach of concurrent physical training and nutritional education, evaluating the integrated effects across multiple systems. Including both metabolic profiles will allow the identification of differences in response to the interventions, contributing to the development of more effective preventive and therapeutic strategies for healthy aging. Objective: To investigate the effects of concurrent physical training combined with nutritional education on cellular senescence parameters in older women with and without obesity. Methodology: One hundred and twenty older women will participate, including 60 with normal weight and 60 with obesity, divided into four groups of 30 participants: 1) GEE - eutrophic group undergoing only nutritional education (NE); 2) GEET - eutrophic group undergoing NE and concurrent training (CT); 3) GOE - obese group undergoing only NE; 4) GOET - obese group undergoing NE and CT. The study will be conducted in two phases: an initial 9-week NE phase, followed by 18 weeks of CT. Throughout the study, functional capacity assessments, anthropometric measurements, dietary recalls, and biological sample collections for genetic and metabolic analyses will be performed, providing a comprehensive view of the effects of the interventions. Expected results: It is expected that the nutritional education strategy will improve participants' dietary patterns, with reduced consumption of ultra-processed foods and increased protein intake. The association of this intervention with physical training is expected to contribute to the modulation of senescence and functionality markers. Additionally, older women with obesity are expected to show a more compromised baseline profile of these markers; however, improvements are anticipated in both groups after the intervention period. (AU)