Work

Understanding Muscle Protein Dynamics: Technical Considerations for Advancing Sarcopenia Research

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Sarcopenia, which is the loss of muscle mass and strength that occur with aging, involves imbalanced muscle protein turnover (i.e., protein breakdown exceeding synthesis), which in turn exacerbates other clinical conditions such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, osteoporosis, and cancer, thereby worsening the quality of life in older adults. This imbalance is attributed in part to the resistance of aged muscle to anabolic stimuli such as dietary protein/amino acids and resistance exercise known as anabolic resistance. Despite research efforts, no practical therapeutics have been successfully discovered possibly because of a lack of understanding of the dynamic nature of muscle protein, and the use of indirect assessments of muscle mass. Herein, we briefly discuss the regulation of protein turnover in response to the abovementioned anabolic stimuli with respect to anabolic resistance and optimal protein intake, followed by methodological considerations for advancing sarcopenia research, including assessments of muscle mass and dynamics.

Source: Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research

DOI: 10.4235/agmr.20.0041

Authors: Il-Young Kim, Sanghee Park, Jiwoong Jang, Robert R. Wolfe

Institutions: Gachon University, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Nutrition and Health in Aging

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: National Research Foundation, Ministry of Education, National Research Foundation of Korea