Regular exercise is often described as one of the best ways to stay healthy as we age.
Physical activity can help maintain muscle strength, improve balance, support heart health, and reduce the risk of many chronic diseases.
However, many older adults find it difficult to stay active because of fatigue, low energy levels, health problems, or a lack of motivation.
As people get older, these challenges can create a cycle that is difficult to break. Feeling tired makes exercise harder, and less exercise can lead to further declines in strength, endurance, and overall well-being. Scientists are therefore looking for ways to help older adults feel more energetic and make exercise more rewarding.
A new study from researchers at UT Health San Antonio suggests that a simple nutritional supplement may provide some help. The study found that adding branched-chain amino acids, commonly known as BCAAs, to an exercise program significantly reduced fatigue and improved mood in older adults with obesity.
The findings offer new hope for people who struggle to maintain an active lifestyle as they age.
The study involved 20 adults with obesity who were around 70 years old. Although the study was relatively small, it was carefully designed to compare the effects of BCAA supplementation with a placebo.
Half of the participants received a drink containing BCAAs, while the other half received a placebo drink that did not contain the active ingredients. Both groups participated in the same eight-week exercise program that included light aerobic activities and strength-training exercises.
BCAAs are a group of essential amino acids that include leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and play important roles throughout the body. Because the body cannot produce essential amino acids on its own, they must come from food or supplements.
BCAAs are naturally found in protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, and legumes. They are particularly well known for supporting muscle growth and recovery. Athletes and fitness enthusiasts often use BCAA supplements to support training and performance.
However, scientists are increasingly discovering that these amino acids may do much more than support muscles. Research suggests they may also influence brain function, mood, and energy levels.
The researchers wanted to understand whether BCAAs could help reduce fatigue, improve emotional well-being, and enhance physical performance.
Fatigue is more complicated than simply feeling tired after a long day. It can involve both physical and mental components. Physical fatigue may result from muscle weakness or reduced endurance. Mental fatigue, sometimes called central fatigue, affects motivation, mood, concentration, and the willingness to engage in activities.
According to Dr. Jason O’Connor, one of the study’s authors, inflammation may play a role in this process. Inflammation can alter the way amino acids are processed in the brain, potentially contributing to feelings of fatigue and low motivation.
Dr. O’Connor believes that supplementing with BCAAs may help restore a healthier balance of amino acids in the brain, reducing fatigue and improving overall well-being.
At the end of the eight-week study, the differences between the two groups were striking.
Participants who received the placebo showed very little improvement in physical performance. Their fatigue levels actually increased by about 5%, and symptoms of depression became slightly worse during the study period.
In contrast, participants who took BCAA supplements experienced substantial benefits. Their fatigue levels fell by approximately 45%, and symptoms of depression decreased by about 29%. The BCAA group also showed modest improvements in strength and endurance.
The researchers were surprised by how little benefit exercise alone appeared to provide for the placebo group. Dr. O’Connor suggested that this may help explain why many older adults struggle to stick with exercise programs. If exercise does not make them feel better, they may become discouraged and stop participating.
By reducing fatigue and improving mood, BCAAs may help make exercise feel more rewarding. This could encourage people to remain active and continue benefiting from regular physical activity.
The research team believes these findings could have important real-world applications. Future studies are planned to include military veterans, who often face additional health challenges as they age. The researchers are also studying the effects of BCAAs in older mice, where early results have also been encouraging.
In future research, the scientists hope to better understand how BCAAs influence inflammation, the immune system, and brain function. They want to determine whether the improvements seen in participants are linked to reduced inflammation, healthier brain signaling, or other biological changes.
Although larger studies are still needed to confirm these results, the findings suggest that a relatively simple nutritional intervention may help older adults overcome one of the biggest barriers to healthy aging: fatigue.
The study highlights the possibility that nutrition and exercise may work together in powerful ways. For older adults who struggle with low energy, poor motivation, or exercise-related fatigue, BCAA supplementation could eventually become a useful tool for improving quality of life and supporting healthier aging.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies about why vitamin K is so important for older people, and this snack food may harm your heart rhythm.
For more health information, please see recent studies about vitamin that may protect you from type 2 diabetes, and results showing this common chemical in food may harm your blood pressure.
The study was published in the journal Diabetics.
Copyright © 2026 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
