Exercise and Nutrition to Target Protein Synthesis Impairments in Aging Skeletal Muscle

Abstract

The loss of skeletal muscle size and function with aging, sarcopenia, may be related, in part, to an age-related muscle protein synthesis impairment. In this review, we discuss to what extent aging affects skeletal muscle protein synthesis and how nutrition and exercise can be strategically employed to overcome age-related protein synthesis impairments and slow the progression of sarcopenia.

Exercise and Sarcopenia

“…Poor nutritional status, mainly represented by low calcium and protein intake and low levels of vitamin D, are commonly found in sarcopenic frail older persons (9). Although low calcium intake is mostly related to low bone mass, it could also be associated with osteosarcopenia (10).…”

“…In terms of the effect of protein supplementation and exercise on muscle loss, there is growing biological and clinical evidence showing that these interventions could have an additive beneficial effect (9,11,12). Nutritional intervention (including protein in the diet þ/À protein supplements) provide a major therapeutic strategy to improve the satellite cell niche and systemic factors, with the goal of improving satellite cell function in aging muscles.…”

“…However, a question that remains unsolved is the optimal timing of protein consumption in relation to exercise. Considering that the best anabolic benefit of exercise occurs within 60 min after exercise, it is during this period of time post-exercise in which the patients should consume their protein supplements, which is expected to increase the availability of the amino acids required during the anabolic process (3,9).…”

Special nutrition intervention is required for muscle protective efficacy of physical exercise in elderly people at highest risk of sarcopenia

“…For example, regular enhanced physical activity of elderly master-athletes (25) significantly reduced although could not fundamentally prevent, the loss of muscle mass and strength over time when they were compared with the control population. In turn, immobilization induces the resistance of muscles to anabolic stimulation (17), and the combinations of these two factors are the major contributors to the development and progression of sarcopenia (16).…”

Changing Measures to Evaluate Changing Bone

“…Fragility fractures are those that result from a fall at standing height or less ( American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2009 ). Loss of skeletal muscle mass, or sarcopenia, is associated with impaired physical function and subsequent falls ( Dickinson, Volpi, & Rasmussen, 2013 ). Thus, sarcopenia and poor bone quality are signifi cant risk factors for falls that can result in fragility fractures.…”