A Distinct Pattern of Circulating Amino Acids Characterizes Older Persons with Physical Frailty and Sarcopenia: Preliminary Results from the BIOSPHERE Study

Abstract

Physical frailty and sarcopenia (PF&S) are hallmarks of aging that share a common pathogenic background. Perturbations in protein/amino acid metabolism may play a role in the development of PF&S. In this preliminary study, 68 community-dwellers aged 70 years and older, 38 with PF&S and 30 non-sarcopenic, non-frail controls (nonPF&S), were enrolled. A panel of 37 serum amino acids and derivatives was assayed by UPLC-MS. Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) was used to characterize the amino acid profile of PF&S. The optimal complexity of the PLS-DA model was found to be three latent variables. The proportion of correct classification was 76.6 ± 3.9% (75.1 ± 4.6% for enrollees with PF&S; 78.5 ± 6.0% for controls). Older adults with PF&S were characterized by higher levels of asparagine, aspartic acid, citrulline, ethanolamine, glutamic acid, sarcosine, and taurine. The profile of nonPF&S individuals was defined by higher levels of α-aminobutyric acid and methionine. Distinct profiles of circulating amino acids and derivatives characterize older individuals with PF&S. The dissection of these patterns may provide novel insights into the role played by protein/amino acid perturbations in the disabling cascade and possible new targets for interventions.

Nutritional Status as a Mediator of Fatigue and Its Underlying Mechanisms in Older People

“…Regarding muscle functionality, the reduction in walking performance and in endurance associated with a perception of exhaustion are all characteristic of sarcopenia [98]. Two of the early symptoms/signs of sarcopenia are, in fact, feeling weak and difficulty rising from a chair, leading to reduced ADL performance [99]. Recently, Patino-Hernandez et al [100] reported an association between two of the sarcopenia-defining variables (abnormal gait speed and handgrip strength) with fatigue.…”

A cross-sectional study of the association of hyperuricemia and sarcopenia in Chinese adults using the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

“…Sarcopenia, a complex illness, has been associated with multiple risk factors, such as decreased physical activity, reduced caloric intake, chronic in ammation, degradation of the neuromuscular junction, and oxidative stress [9,10] . Oxidative stress results from various variables, including disturbances in intercellular conduction, mitochondrial malfunction, in ammation, and the buildup of reactive oxygen species [11,12] . Therefore, the implementation of strategies aimed at mitigating the detrimental effects of oxidative stress-induced damage presents itself as a promising avenue for the prevention of sarcopenia.…”