Strategies to Prevent Sarcopenia in the Aging Process: Role of Protein Intake and Exercise (original) (raw)

Exercise and Protein Intake: A Synergistic Approach against Sarcopenia

BioMed research international, 2017

Sarcopenia, the age-dependent loss of muscle mass and function/strength, is increasingly recognized as a major risk factor for adverse outcomes in frail older people. As such, the skeletal muscle is a relevant target for interventions aimed at preventing or postponing the occurrence of negative health-related events in late life. The association among physical inactivity, insufficient intake of energy and protein, and poor muscle health in older adults suggests that physical exercise and targeted nutritional supplementation may offer substantial therapeutic gain against sarcopenia and its negative correlates. This view is supported by observational studies as well as by small-scale clinical trials. In this review, we summarize the available evidence on the beneficial effects of behavioral interventions on sarcopenia. We also briefly describe how the knowledge gathered so far has been used to design the "Sarcopenia and Physical fRailty IN older people: multicomponenT Treatment s...

Fighting Sarcopenia in Ageing European Adults: The Importance of the Amount and Source of Dietary Proteins

Nutrients

While an adequate protein intake is important for the maintenance of muscle mass during ageing, the amount and source of protein necessary for optimal prevention of sarcopenia remains to be determined. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of the amount and source of dietary proteins on sarcopenia risk in a cohort of 65–79-year-old European adults within the frame of the NU-AGE study. A total of 986 participants were included in the analysis. Skeletal muscle index (SMI), assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and handgrip strength (HG) were employed to create a continuous sex-specific sarcopenia risk score (SRS). Total amount together with animal- and plant-derived sources of proteins were obtained from a 7-day food record. Differences in SRS were analysed across groups of total protein intake (<0.8 g/body weight (BW); 0.8–<1.0 g/BW; 1.0–<1.2 g/BW; and ≥1.2 g/BW). The association between SRS and the different sources of protein was assessed using...

Role of Dietary Protein and Muscular Fitness on Longevity and Aging

Aging and disease, 2018

Muscle atrophy is an unfortunate effect of aging and many diseases and can compromise physical function and impair vital metabolic processes. Low levels of muscular fitness together with insufficient dietary intake are major risk factors for illness and mortality from all causes. Ultimately, muscle wasting contributes significantly to weakness, disability, increased hospitalization, immobility, and loss of independence. However, the extent of muscle wasting differs greatly between individuals due to differences in the aging process as well as physical activity levels. Interventions for sarcopenia include exercise and nutrition because both have a positive impact on protein anabolism but also enhance other aspects that contribute to well-being in sarcopenic older adults, such as physical function, quality of life, and anti-inflammatory state. The process of aging is accompanied by chronic immune activation, and sarcopenia may represent a consequence of a counter-regulatory strategy o...

Are Canadian Protein and Physical Activity Guidelines Optimal for Sarcopenia Prevention in Older Adults?

Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme, 2018

Aging is characterized by physiological and morphological changes that affect body composition, strength, and function ultimately leading to sarcopenia. This condition results in physical disability, falls, fractures, poor quality of life and increased health care costs. Evidence suggests that increased consumption of dietary protein and physical activity levels, especially resistance exercise, can counteract the trajectory of sarcopenia. Canadian guidelines for protein intake and physical activity were last updated in 2005 and 2011, respectively and new evidence on sarcopenia diagnosis, prevention and treatment is rapidly evolving. Protein recommendations are set as "one-size-fits-all" for both young and older adults. Recent evidence demonstrates that current recommendations are insufficient to meet the minimum protein requirement to counteract muscle loss and to stimulate hypertrophy in healthy older adults. Beyond quantity, protein quality is also essential to benefit m...

Protein intake and exercise for optimal muscle function with aging: Recommendations from the ESPEN Expert Group

Clinical Nutrition, 2014

The aging process is associated with gradual and progressive loss of muscle mass along with lowered strength and physical endurance. This condition, sarcopenia, has been widely observed with aging in sedentary adults. Regular aerobic and resistance exercise programs have been shown to counteract most aspects of sarcopenia. In addition, good nutrition, especially adequate protein and energy intake, can help limit and treat age-related declines in muscle mass, strength, and functional abilities. Protein nutrition in combination with exercise is considered optimal for maintaining muscle function.

Current nutritional recommendations and novel dietary strategies to manage sarcopenia

The Journal of frailty & aging, 2013

Sarcopenia, the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function that occurs with aging, is associated with increased risk for several adverse health outcomes, including frailty, disability, falls, loss of independent living, and mortality. At present, no pharmacological treatment exists that is able to definitely halt the progression of sarcopenia. Likewise, no pharmacological remedies are yet available to prevent the onset of age-related muscle wasting. In this scenario, the combination of nutritional interventions and physical exercise appears to be the most effective strategy presently available for the management of sarcopenia. The purposes of this review are to summarize the current knowledge on the role of nutrition as a countermeasure for sarcopenia, illustrate the mechanisms of action of relevant dietary agents on the aging muscle, and introduce novel nutritional strategies that may help preserve muscle mass and function into old age. Issues related to the identification of the op...

Prevalence of and interventions for sarcopenia in ageing adults: a systematic review. Report of the International Sarcopenia Initiative (EWGSOP and IWGS)

Age Ageing, 2014

Objective: to examine the clinical evidence reporting the prevalence of sarcopenia and the effect of nutrition and exercise interventions from studies using the consensus definition of sarcopenia proposed by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP). Methods: PubMed and Dialog databases were searched (January 2000-October 2013) using pre-defined search terms. Prevalence studies and intervention studies investigating muscle mass plus strength or function outcome measures using the EWGSOP definition of sarcopenia, in well-defined populations of adults aged ≥50 years were selected. Results: prevalence of sarcopenia was, with regional and age-related variations, 1-29% in community-dwelling populations, 14-33% in long-term care populations and 10% in the only acute hospital-care population examined. Moderate quality evidence suggests that exercise interventions improve muscle strength and physical performance. The results of nutrition interventions are 2.5 g of leucine, and β-hydroxy β-methylbutyric acid (HMB) supplements, show some effects in improving muscle mass and function parameters. Protein supplements have not shown consistent benefits on muscle mass and function. Conclusion: prevalence of sarcopenia is substantial in most geriatric settings. Well-designed, standardised studies evaluating exercise or nutrition interventions are needed before treatment guidelines can be developed. Physicians should screen for sarcopenia in both community and geriatric settings, with diagnosis based on muscle mass and function. Supervised resistance exercise is recommended for individuals with sarcopenia. EAA (with leucine) and HMB may improve muscle outcomes.

The Prevalence of Sarcopenia in the Elderly: How the Consumption of Protein Supplement Interacts in Individuals of a Fortaleza Institution

Introduction: Sarcopenia is a natural disturb that usually affects older people consisting in strength and muscle mass loss. Sedentary lifestyle and nutritional habits are some inducing factors. Supplementation may contribute to improvements on life quality in elders predisposed to sarcopenia. Objectives: verify the relevance of protein supplementation on life quality of elders predisposed to sarcopenia. Assess the individual's evolution along the study. Methods: protein supplementation application during 45 days on 13 elders, comparing them with 13 elders in control group without supplementation. Anthropometric measurements were performed before and after the 45 days period and evaluated for each participant, as well as their nutrition, individually. Results: We observed a improvement in some anthropometric measures, and a reduction in others, that might be explained by previous pathologies already diagnosed. Muscle mass changes were positive, according with specific reference measures. Some elders reported motor strength improvements, disposition and energy. Physical active participants showed more significant results and sedentary ones. Conclusion: positive outcomes were obtained from protein supplementation in older people, and more correlated studies are still necessary, considering the field's relevancy to longevity and overall life quality.