Recruitment evaluation of a gerotherapeutic randomized controlled trial testing alpha-ketoglutarate in biologically older, middle-aged adults (ABLE)
Background: Gerotherapeutic interventions that optimize the health and healthspan of biologically older, yet generally healthy adults are importance for reducing healthcare costs associated with ageing populations. It remains unclear whether recruiting middle-aged individuals with an older biologica...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-10-01
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| Series: | Experimental Gerontology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556525001962 |
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| author | Zhi Meng Lim Yi Ern Chew Lihuan Guan Weilan Wang Muhammad Daniel A. Mahadzir Rajkumar Dorajoo Brian Kennedy Elena Sandalova Andrea B. Maier |
| author_facet | Zhi Meng Lim Yi Ern Chew Lihuan Guan Weilan Wang Muhammad Daniel A. Mahadzir Rajkumar Dorajoo Brian Kennedy Elena Sandalova Andrea B. Maier |
| author_sort | Zhi Meng Lim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Gerotherapeutic interventions that optimize the health and healthspan of biologically older, yet generally healthy adults are importance for reducing healthcare costs associated with ageing populations. It remains unclear whether recruiting middle-aged individuals with an older biological age is feasible in gerotherapeutic trials. The aim is to evaluate feasibility of recruiting biologically older yet generally healthy middle-aged adults for Alpha-ketoglutarate Supplementation and BiologicaL agE in middle-aged adults (ABLE) trial. Methods: ABLE is a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial assessing the effects of 1 g sustained-release calcium alpha-ketoglutarate versus placebo over 6 months, followed by 3 months of follow up visit, in 120 generally healthy adults (with at most one chronic condition) aged 40–60 years with a higher biological age (assessed by DNA methylation clocks) than chronological age living in Singapore. Feasibility analyses were done using the recruitment metrics; recruitment rate, consent rate, eligibility rate, recruitment conversion rate, and the effectiveness of recruitment strategies. Results: Among 467 individuals who expressed interest in participation, 120 participants were enrolled in the study. The recruitment period was 223 working days. Eligibility rates were 80.3 % at pre-screening and 67.3 % at screening, with a consent rate of 66.1 %. Conversion rates were 25.7 % and 48.4 % from pre-screening and screening to enrolment, respectively. The biological age was exceeding the chronological age in 80.2 % of participants and 54.3 % reported no pre-existing health conditions. Word-of-mouth was the most effective recruitment method (36.2 %). Conclusion: ABLE demonstrated the feasibility of recruiting biologically older yet generally healthy middle-aged adults for gerotherapeutic interventions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f1baa3d69cd34da796910a88c8a7a684 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1873-6815 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Experimental Gerontology |
| spelling | doaj-art-f1baa3d69cd34da796910a88c8a7a6842025-08-20T05:04:21ZengElsevierExperimental Gerontology1873-68152025-10-0120911286710.1016/j.exger.2025.112867Recruitment evaluation of a gerotherapeutic randomized controlled trial testing alpha-ketoglutarate in biologically older, middle-aged adults (ABLE)Zhi Meng Lim0Yi Ern Chew1Lihuan Guan2Weilan Wang3Muhammad Daniel A. Mahadzir4Rajkumar Dorajoo5Brian Kennedy6Elena Sandalova7Andrea B. Maier8Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Centre for Healthy Longevity, National University Health System (NUHS), SingaporeHealthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; NUS Academy for Healthy Longevity, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University, SingaporeHealthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; NUS Academy for Healthy Longevity, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University, SingaporeHealthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; NUS Academy for Healthy Longevity, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University, SingaporeHealthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; NUS Academy for Healthy Longevity, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University, SingaporeGenome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore; Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, SingaporeHealthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Centre for Healthy Longevity, National University Health System (NUHS), SingaporeHealthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; NUS Academy for Healthy Longevity, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University, SingaporeHealthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; NUS Academy for Healthy Longevity, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University, Singapore; Department of Human Movement Sciences, @AgeAmsterdam, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, the Netherlands.; Corresponding author at: Department of Human Movement Sciences, @AgeAmsterdam, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands.Background: Gerotherapeutic interventions that optimize the health and healthspan of biologically older, yet generally healthy adults are importance for reducing healthcare costs associated with ageing populations. It remains unclear whether recruiting middle-aged individuals with an older biological age is feasible in gerotherapeutic trials. The aim is to evaluate feasibility of recruiting biologically older yet generally healthy middle-aged adults for Alpha-ketoglutarate Supplementation and BiologicaL agE in middle-aged adults (ABLE) trial. Methods: ABLE is a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial assessing the effects of 1 g sustained-release calcium alpha-ketoglutarate versus placebo over 6 months, followed by 3 months of follow up visit, in 120 generally healthy adults (with at most one chronic condition) aged 40–60 years with a higher biological age (assessed by DNA methylation clocks) than chronological age living in Singapore. Feasibility analyses were done using the recruitment metrics; recruitment rate, consent rate, eligibility rate, recruitment conversion rate, and the effectiveness of recruitment strategies. Results: Among 467 individuals who expressed interest in participation, 120 participants were enrolled in the study. The recruitment period was 223 working days. Eligibility rates were 80.3 % at pre-screening and 67.3 % at screening, with a consent rate of 66.1 %. Conversion rates were 25.7 % and 48.4 % from pre-screening and screening to enrolment, respectively. The biological age was exceeding the chronological age in 80.2 % of participants and 54.3 % reported no pre-existing health conditions. Word-of-mouth was the most effective recruitment method (36.2 %). Conclusion: ABLE demonstrated the feasibility of recruiting biologically older yet generally healthy middle-aged adults for gerotherapeutic interventions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556525001962RecruitmentFeasibilityBiological ageDietary supplementsRandomized controlled trialsGeroscience |
| spellingShingle | Zhi Meng Lim Yi Ern Chew Lihuan Guan Weilan Wang Muhammad Daniel A. Mahadzir Rajkumar Dorajoo Brian Kennedy Elena Sandalova Andrea B. Maier Recruitment evaluation of a gerotherapeutic randomized controlled trial testing alpha-ketoglutarate in biologically older, middle-aged adults (ABLE) Experimental Gerontology Recruitment Feasibility Biological age Dietary supplements Randomized controlled trials Geroscience |
| title | Recruitment evaluation of a gerotherapeutic randomized controlled trial testing alpha-ketoglutarate in biologically older, middle-aged adults (ABLE) |
| title_full | Recruitment evaluation of a gerotherapeutic randomized controlled trial testing alpha-ketoglutarate in biologically older, middle-aged adults (ABLE) |
| title_fullStr | Recruitment evaluation of a gerotherapeutic randomized controlled trial testing alpha-ketoglutarate in biologically older, middle-aged adults (ABLE) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recruitment evaluation of a gerotherapeutic randomized controlled trial testing alpha-ketoglutarate in biologically older, middle-aged adults (ABLE) |
| title_short | Recruitment evaluation of a gerotherapeutic randomized controlled trial testing alpha-ketoglutarate in biologically older, middle-aged adults (ABLE) |
| title_sort | recruitment evaluation of a gerotherapeutic randomized controlled trial testing alpha ketoglutarate in biologically older middle aged adults able |
| topic | Recruitment Feasibility Biological age Dietary supplements Randomized controlled trials Geroscience |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556525001962 |
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