Effects of Concurrent Training plus Cricket Protein Hydrolysate Supplementation on Blood Pressure, Arterial Stiffness, and Heart Rate Variability in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract

Background: Arterial stiffness and impaired cardiac autonomic regulation contribute to cardiovascular risk in older adults. However, the cardiovascular effects of combining concurrent training with insect-derived protein supplementation remain unclear. This study examined the effects of concurrent training and hydrolyzed house cricket protein supplementation on blood pressure (BP), arterial stiffness, and heart rate variability (HRV) in older adults.

Methods: Forty-four older adults (64.7±5.8 years) completed the study and were included in the analysis: placebo (PLA), hydrolyzed house cricket protein supplementation alone (PRO), concurrent training with placebo supplementation (CT), or concurrent training plus hydrolyzed house cricket protein supplementation (PRO+CT). Exercise and supplementation were performed three times weekly for 12 weeks, with supplementation providing 30 g of hydrolyzed house cricket protein per session.

Results: Significant time × group interactions were observed for systolic BP (p=0.028), mean arterial pressure (MAP; p=0.031), rate-pressure product (RPP; p=0.002), resting heart rate (p=0.038), and RR interval (p=0.038). At post-intervention, MAP (p=0.012) and RPP (p=0.034) were lower in PRO+CT than in PLA, although PRO+CT did not differ significantly from CT or PRO. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity decreased over time (p<0.001), without a significant time × group interaction.

Conclusion: The combined intervention of concurrent training and hydrolyzed house cricket protein supplementation was associated with favorable changes in selected BP-related hemodynamic and resting cardiac measures in older adults but showed no clear additional cardiovascular benefit over either intervention alone. Changes in arterial stiffness and most HRV indices showed no clear intervention-specific effects.