Resistance exercise training increases mixed muscle protein synthesis rate in frail women and men >= 76 yr old

• Published in: American journal of physiology: endocrinology and metabolism Vol. 277; no. 1; pp. E118 - E125
• Main Authors: Yarasheski, Kevin E, Pak-Loduca, Jina, Hasten, Debbie L, Obert, Kathleen A, Brown, Mary Beth, Sinacore, David R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.1999
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Body Composition - physiology; Creatinine - urine; Female; Frail Elderly; Humans; Leg; Male; Methylhistidines - urine; Muscle Proteins - biosynthesis; Muscle, Skeletal - anatomy & histology; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Organ Size - physiology; Physical Education and Training; Sex Characteristics; Weight Lifting
• ISSN: 0193-1849; 0002-9513; 1522-1555
• DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.1999.277.1.e118

Claude D. Pepper Older American's Independence Center, Divisions of Geriatrics and Gerontology and Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, Washington University Medical Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63110 Muscle atrophy (sarcopenia) in the elderly is associated with a reduced rate of muscle protein synthesis. The purpose of this study was to determine if weight-lifting exercise increases the rate of muscle protein synthesis in physically frail 76- to 92-yr-old women and men. Eight women and 4 men with mild to moderate physical frailty were enrolled in a 3-mo physical therapy program that was followed by 3 mo of supervised weight-lifting exercise. Supervised weight-lifting exercise was performed 3 days/wk at 65-100% of initial 1-repetition maximum on five upper and three lower body exercises. Compared with before resistance training, the in vivo incorporation rate of [ 13 C]leucine into vastus lateralis muscle protein was increased after resistance training in women and men ( P  < 0.01), although it was unchanged in five 82 ± 2-yr-old control subjects studied two times in 3 mo. Maximum voluntary knee extensor muscle torque production increased in the supervised resistance exercise group. These findings suggest that muscle contractile protein synthetic pathways in physically frail 76- to 92-yr-old women and men respond and adapt to the increased contractile activity associated with progressive resistance exercise training. sarcopenia; stable isotopes; mass spectrometry; physical activity