Work

Moderate to vigorous physical activity, leucine, and protein intake contributions to muscle health in middle age

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: IntroductionDeclines in skeletal muscle mass and/or strength and power, defined as sarcopenia, are related to debilitating changes in physical and cognitive impairment, quality of life, and increased risk of early mortality 1,2 .Sarcopenia affects many older adults across sexes, races, and ethnicities supporting the need for recognition as a disease and the recent inclusion in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems [1][2][3] .Though the rate of muscle mass decline has been reported to be 0.65-2.0%per year in those over the age of 50 years, decreases may occur as early as age 30 for men and 40 for women 2,3 .Other data have shown similar decreases in muscle strength accompanied by a three-fold greater decrease in strength than in muscle mass 4 .Reduced abilities to complete activities of daily living and impaired mobility and walking measured Abstract Objective: Identify contributors to differences in the muscle size and strength of sedentary and active young and middle-aged adults.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 98 participants aged 20-65 years.Participants were categorized based on age and self-reported physical activity (PA) habits.Participants completed a strength assessment of knee extensors (KEPT), knee flexors (KFPT), plantar flexors (PFPT), and dorsiflexors (DFPT), a 3-day dietary intake log, 7-day accelerometry, and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan for muscle cross-sectional area analysis of the right quadriceps (CSAq).Results: There were significant age and activity-related group effects for relative protein intake (p<0.001),relative energy intake (p=0.04),KEPT (p=0.01),CSAq (p=0.002),PFPT (p=0.004) and DFPT (p=0.003).Moderate, moderate-to-vigorous, and vigorous PA were positively associated with CSAq (R 2 =0.69-0.71;p<0.05),KEPT (R 2 =0.61-0.63;p<0.05), and PFPT (R 2 =0.31-0.36;p<0.05).Relative protein intake and daily leucine intake were significantly and positively associated with CSAq (R 2 =0.70 and 0.67 respectively; p<0.05),KEPT (R 2 =0.62 and 0.65 respectively; p<0.05), and PFPT (R 2 =0.29 and 0.28 respectively; p<0.05).Conclusion: Muscle size and strength were lower in middle age relative to younger age, but increased PA, protein intake, and leucine intake was associated with the preservation of muscle size and strength in larger muscle groups of the lower body.

Source: Journal of Frailty Sarcopenia and Falls

DOI: 10.22540/jfsf-07-123