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Amino Acids Build Muscle Mass in Older Folks
According to a new study published in the June 2008 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology, nutritional supplements with oral amino acid mixtures can increase whole-body lean mass and insulin sensitivity in elderly subjects with sarcopenia. An age-related health concern.
This condition is frequently associated with frailty and disability in aging as well as the onset and progression of several geriatric syndromes. Sarcopenia therefore must be managed with several different approaches that include physical training, nutritional support, and metabolic and anabolic treatment.
The study was conducted on 41 elderly subjects (age range: 66-84 years) with sarcopenia, assigned to 2 distinct treatments (AAs and placebo). All subjects had normal body weight (body mass index within 19-23). The AA treatment consisted of 70.6 kcal/day (1 kcal = 4.2 kJ) of 8 grams of essential AA snacks, given at 10:00 am and 5:00 pm. Lean mass was measured in leg, arm, and trunk tissues. Significant increases in whole-body lean mass in all areas were seen after 6 months and more consistently after 18 months of oral nutritional supplementation with AAs. Fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (an index of insulin resistance) significantly decreased during AA treatment.
The improvement in the amount of whole-body lean mass is believed to be linked to increased insulin sensitivity and anabolic conditions related to IGF-1 availability.(1)
Alpha- and Gamma Tocopherol protects against DNA damage
In the heart, both tocopherol-supplemented diets were effective in inhibiting the expression of genes previously associated with cardiomyocyte hypertrophy (heart-cell deterioration) and increased immunity. In the brain, proteins involved in ATP biosynthesis (needed for cellular energy) was observed with aging and was markedly prevented by the mixture of {alpha}T and {gamma}T supplementation but not by {alpha}T alone.
These results demonstrate that middle age-onset dietary supplementation with {alpha}T and {gamma}T can partially prevent age-associated transcriptional (DNA) changes and that these effects are tissue and tocopherol specific. (2)
Article contributed by L. Hirsch, Science Editor for MDR Nutritionals, makers of MDR Nutritionals, makers of Vital Factors Anti-Aging supplement.
REFERENCES:
(1) J. Nutr. 138:1010-1018, June 2008
(2) Am J Cardiol. 2008 Jun 2;101(11A):69E-77
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