Oxidative Stress, Sarcopenia, Antioxidant Strategies and Exercise: Molecular Aspects

Sarcopenia could be currently defined as a geriatric syndrome initially characterized by a decrease in muscle mass that will get worse causing deterioration in strength and physical performance. A negative protein turnover, impaired mitochondrial dynamics and functions, a decreased muscle regeneration capacity, as well as an exacerbation of apoptosis are usually considered to be cellular mechanisms involved in muscle atrophy leading to sarcopenia. In this review, we first present that muscle overproduction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and oxidative stress observed during aging are associated with sarcopenia, and then discuss how RONS are involved in redox-sensitive signaling pathways leading to sarcopenia. The identification of cost-effectiveness interventions to maintain muscle mass and physical functions in the elderly is one of the most important public health challenges. Here, we also discuss about the efficiency of different kind of antioxidant strategies against sarcopenia. Since exercise is the best strategy to prevent and reverse sarcopenia, we also highlight that exercise acts as an antioxidant.