L‑serine supplements with or without strength training for older adults
L-serine and Strength Training in the Elderly
This trial tries daily L‑serine supplements, alone or combined with supervised strength training, to see if they improve thinking, brain health, and physical fitness in healthy 65–85‑year‑olds.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 126 (estimated) |
| Ages | 65 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Vienna Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Vienna, State of Vienna) |
| Trial ID | NCT07466290 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a randomized, double‑blind, controlled interventional study with three parallel groups (placebo, L‑serine, and L‑serine plus strength training) run over 48 weeks. Healthy, independently mobile men and women aged 65–85 will undergo cognitive testing, physical performance testing, MRI and EEG, and blood biomarker analyses at multiple time points. The primary outcome is change in a composite cognitive score (RBANS), with secondary outcomes including brain structure and function, markers of oxidative stress and immune function, muscle mass, and physical performance. The design allows comparison of nutritional supplementation alone versus combined multimodal intervention.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are healthy, independently mobile men and women aged 65–85 with Mini‑Mental State Examination scores above 23 who have not been doing regular strength training in the prior 6 months.
Not a fit: People with chronic conditions that contraindicate exercise, frailty (Frailty Index ≥3), regular recent strength training, or MRI contraindications are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could help older adults maintain or improve cognitive performance, brain health markers, and muscle strength during aging.
How similar studies have performed: Resistance training has shown cognitive and physical benefits in older adults in prior work, while L‑serine supplementation for cognition is relatively novel with limited clinical evidence so far.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Men and women between the ages of 65 and 85 * Mini-Mental-State \>23 * Independently mobile, without aids (walker, cane, etc.) Exclusion Criteria: * Chronic diseases that contraindicate medical training therapy * Regular strength training (\>1x/week) in the last 6 months before confinement * Frailty Index ≥ 3 * Lack of written consent to test physical performance * Regular use of Cortison-containing medications or Antibiotika * MR-specific exclusion criteria: claustrophobia, metal equipment or other magnetic Material in or on the body * Non-compliance with the study protocol: \<70% of the planned L-serine administration, \<70% of the strength training
Where this trial is running
Vienna, State of Vienna
- NuTraLab — Vienna, State of Vienna, Austria (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Karl-Heinz Wagner, Prof.
- Email: karl-heinz.wagner@univie.ac.at
- Phone: +43-1-4277-54930
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.