2.1. Participants and Experimental Design
inflammation, RET, TG
INFLAMMATION, OXIDATIVE STRESS
This study was approved by the New Mexico State University Institutional Review Board (no. 17616) on January 15, 2019. Twenty healthy older women (65.65 ± 3.39 y) were recruited for this study. Group sizes were determined by a-priori power analysis using effect size calculated from previous evidence which showed notable differences in muscle strength following exercise in older adults [A longitudinal design was employed to examine changes in all dependent variables from pre- to post-intervention. Participants visited the laboratory for pre-intervention assessments, including evaluations of grip strength, physical function, BP, TG, and blood biomarkers for systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. After completing all baseline assessments, participants were randomly assigned to either resistance exercise training and a placebo supplement (RET-PL, n = 10) or RET combined with FO supplementation (RET-FO, n = 10) for an 8 wk intervention. Upon completion of the 8 wk intervention, they returned to the lab for post-intervention outcome assessments. Throughout the 8 wk intervention period, all participants were instructed to maintain their regular diet, normal daily activity, and regular sleep schedule. They were advised to refrain from any strenuous exercise or physical activity (e.g., resistance exercise training held outside of the research laboratory) and to avoid consuming food (e.g., high-fat diet) or beverages (e.g., coffee, tea, etc.) that could affect their metabolic rate for 48 h before their lab visit to minimize the variability of the dependent variables.