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Discrepancy between muscle and whole body protein turnover
N E Deutz1, A J Wagenmakers, P B Soeters
1Department of Surgery, Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
|August 24, 1999
Summary
Muscle protein turnover is key to understanding muscle wasting. Whole body measurements are not suitable for assessing muscle metabolism, unlike measurements of individual proteins or subfractions.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Physiology
- Metabolism
Background:
- Muscle wasting (atrophy) is a significant physiological concern.
- Understanding muscle protein turnover is crucial for studying muscle wasting.
- Various techniques exist to measure protein turnover.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review techniques for measuring muscle protein turnover.
- To evaluate the suitability of different methods for assessing muscle metabolism.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on protein turnover measurement techniques.
- Focus on whole body protein turnover measurements.
- Focus on tracer incorporation into mixed muscle protein.
Main Results:
- Whole body protein turnover measurements primarily reflect splanchnic (liver and gut) metabolism.
- Whole body measurements are not appropriate for assessing muscle protein metabolism.
- Measuring synthesis in individual muscle proteins or subfractions is preferred.
Conclusions:
- Whole body protein turnover is not a reliable indicator of muscle protein metabolism.
- Accurate assessment of muscle protein synthesis requires analyzing specific muscle proteins or subfractions.