STRONG trial protocol: blueberries, protein and exercise versus usual care in older Nova Scotians
This protocol describes a planned one-year randomised trial in 240 adults aged 65 or older in Nova Scotia, comparing a combined intervention of daily blueberries, daily protein powder and supervised exercise with usual care, with outcomes including frailty and cardiovascular health. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The protocol states that blueberries can improve vascular health and protect against cellular senescence. [1]
The planned intervention combines one cup of blueberries daily, 30 g of protein powder daily and three 60-minute exercise sessions weekly, compared with usual care. [1]
The trial plans to recruit 240 adults aged 65 or older in Nova Scotia, Canada. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Protocol for a pragmatic parallel-group randomised controlled superiority trial
- Population / context
- Planned recruitment of 240 adults aged 65 or older, 120 women and 120 men, in Nova Scotia, Canada.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 25, 2026
Planned STRONG trial in older Nova Scotians
The protocol links frailty and cardiovascular disease and notes that earlier trials found exercise, alone or with dietary protein, reduced frailty. It also states that blueberries can improve vascular health and protect against cellular senescence. The planned trial is called STRONG and aims to test whether a year-long treatment with blueberries, protein and exercise reduces frailty and improves cardiovascular health in older adults of both sexes.
Supporting source [1]
Randomised comparison: combined programme versus usual care
STRONG is described as a pragmatic randomised controlled trial lasting one year, with an additional year of follow-up. The plan is to recruit 240 adults aged 65 or older, 120 women and 120 men, in Nova Scotia, Canada. Participants are to be randomly assigned to the intervention group (one cup of blueberries per day, 30 g of protein powder per day and three 60-minute multimodal exercise sessions per week with an exercise physiologist) or to a control group receiving usual care.
Supporting source [1]
Planned outcomes and abstract-only scope
Planned outcomes include changes in frailty, such as frailty scores, balance, falls, life-space and social engagement, cardiovascular disease risk factors such as blood pressure, lipid profile and Framingham risk score, cardiovascular health measures such as the 6-minute walk test and cardiac function, plus inflammatory markers, physical fitness, diet quality and health-related quality of life. All measures are planned at baseline and 12 months, with many repeated at 3, 6, 9 and 24 months. The trial is registered as NCT06693271. This is a protocol, so no results are reported here.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
This is an abstract of a study protocol; no results are reported, and the full text was not reviewed. The described effects of exercise, protein and blueberries come from earlier trials and background statements, not from this trial's findings. Whether the combined programme reduces frailty or improves cardiovascular health is still to be tested.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Cahill LE, Grandy SA, Gottheil C, Mercer O, Wright D, Consmueller C, Wong H, Jeon I, Rockwood K, Howlett SE. · europepmc.org · September 25, 2026