Protein, blueberries, and exercise to improve heart health and frailty in older Nova Scotians
Official title: The STudy on bluebeRries, prOteiN, and Exercise for improvinG Frailty and Cardiovascular Disease (STRONG)
Run by Nova Scotia Health Authority · NCT06693271 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program will test whether adding protein supplements, daily blueberries, and a combined resistance-plus-aerobic exercise plan can improve heart health and reduce frailty in people aged 65–85 in Nova Scotia.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 65 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 240 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Nova Scotia Health Authority Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Halifax, Nova Scotia) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 15, 2025 |
| Main results expected | June 30, 2028 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | August 28, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06693271 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are community-dwelling adults aged 65–85 in Nova Scotia who can safely do moderate-intensity exercise and are willing to take protein supplements and eat blueberries.
✕Probably not a fit
People who cannot safely exercise because of medical or cognitive limitations, or who are allergic to or refuse blueberries or protein powder, are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a pragmatic randomized controlled trial that randomizes older adults to a packaged intervention called STRONG (protein supplements, blueberries, and supervised resistance plus aerobic training) or to continue their usual medical care. The intervention combines three components chosen for complementary biological effects on muscle, inflammation, and cardiovascular function. The main comparison will examine changes in frailty and cardiovascular health over a one-year intervention with an additional year of follow-up. Participants are enrolled at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax and must be able to participate in moderate-intensity exercise.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the packaged intervention could reduce frailty and improve cardiovascular markers, potentially lowering complications and preserving independence in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show exercise, protein supplementation, and blueberries can each help muscle health or inflammation individually, but combining them into a single packaged intervention targeting both frailty and cardiovascular health is novel and largely untested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Must be 65 years of age or above * Must be willing to participate in a low to moderate exercise program Exclusion Criteria: * Medical and cognitive conditions that prevent participation in the intervention * Allergies and or dislike of blueberries and/or protein powder
Where it's running
-
QEII Health Sciences Centre, Dickson Building
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Scott A Grandy, PhD
- Email: Scott.Grandy@Dal.Ca
- Phone: 902-494-4303
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Postprandial drop and frailty in older adults having planned noncardiac surgery
This study tests whether a drop in blood pressure after meals and frailty predict low blood pressure after anesthesia starts in adults 65 and older undergoing planned noncardiac surgery.
-
Frailty Training for Emergency Nurses in Morocco
This trial tests whether a four-module training program helps Moroccan emergency nurses recognize and care for frail older adults in the ER.
-
Cardio-Metabolic Clinic care for adults with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
This trial tests whether a specialized Cardio-Metabolic Clinic can improve heart function and overall health for adults with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease compared with usual care.
-
Physical Function and Fall Risk in Older Adults in Lalín's Frailty Prevention Program
This study will look at how physical function and fall risk change in people 70 and older who participate in a routine frailty and falls prevention program, by comparing assessments before and after the 8–12 week program.
-
Home-based multicomponent exercise program for older adults with osteosarcopenia and frailty
This study tests a home-based exercise program built on the Fogg Behavior Model to see if it improves frailty, muscle strength, physical function, bone density, and quality of life in adults aged 60–85 with osteosarcopenia and frailty.
-
Petrelintide for weight loss in people with overweight/obesity and heart disease
This study tests whether petrelintide helps people with overweight or obesity and cardiovascular disease lose weight when added to a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity, compared with a placebo.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.