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Preparation and Culture of Myogenic Precursor Cells/Primary Myoblasts from Skeletal Muscle of Adult and Aged Humans
Published on: February 16, 2017
Amino acids and muscle loss with aging
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
The Journal of Nutrition
|December 21, 2005
Summary
Aging causes muscle loss (sarcopenia). Essential amino acids, particularly leucine, can stimulate muscle protein synthesis in older adults, potentially preventing and treating sarcopenia.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Muscle Physiology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Aging leads to sarcopenia, a loss of muscle mass, increasing injury and disability risks.
- Mechanisms of sarcopenia are unclear but involve altered muscle response to nutrition and reduced protein intake.
- Age-related changes in muscle protein metabolism and hormonal responses are significant factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on nutritional intake's role in elderly protein metabolism.
- To explore the impact of essential amino acids and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) on muscle protein synthesis in aging.
- To investigate the potential of leucine supplementation for sarcopenia prevention and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature on aging, sarcopenia, and nutritional interventions.
- Analysis of studies examining muscle protein synthesis response to amino acids in older individuals.
- Examination of the role of leucine in initiating mRNA translation and its age-related changes.
Main Results:
- Older muscle retains the ability to respond to essential amino acids and BCAAs, stimulating muscle protein synthesis.
- Leucine directly stimulates mRNA translation initiation, a pathway still functional in older age, though potentially attenuated.
- Excess leucine may overcome age-related resistance, suggesting a therapeutic role.
Conclusions:
- Essential amino acid supplementation, especially with excess leucine, shows promise for preventing and treating sarcopenia.
- Targeting leucine's effect on mRNA translation could be a key strategy to combat age-related muscle loss.
- Nutritional strategies focusing on specific amino acids are crucial for maintaining muscle health in the elderly.
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