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Essential amino acid supplementation maintains muscle function during bed rest in the elderly
Author(s) -
Ferrando Arny A,
PaddonJones Doug,
Kortebein Patrick,
Ronsen Ola,
Lombeida Juan,
Symons T. Brock,
Wolfe Robert R.,
Evans William
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.1163.1
Subject(s) - bed rest , medicine , lean body mass , muscle mass , sarcopenia , placebo , analysis of variance , skeletal muscle , preferred walking speed , nutritional supplementation , physical therapy , endocrinology , body weight , alternative medicine , pathology
Older individuals are more likely to experience extended hospitalization. Thus, there is an inherent risk of prolonged inactivity and the accompanying functional decline. We have previously demonstrated that the provision of an essential amino acid (EAA) supplement in younger individuals subjected to 28d of bed rest eliminates the loss of lean body mass (LBM) and ameliorates the loss in muscle function. We hypothesized that EAA administration in older individuals subjected to 10d bed rest would also spare LBM and muscle function. Twenty‐two older subjects were given a placebo (n = 12, 68 ± 5 (SD) yrs, 83 ± 19 kg) or 15g of EAA (n = 10, 71 ± 6, 72 ± 8 kg) 3 times per day throughout 10d of bed rest. Measures of LBM, muscle protein synthesis, and muscle strength and function were determined before and after bed rest. Outcomes were tested statistically by 2X2 ANOVA and Tukey's post‐hoc test. EAA supplementation maintained muscle protein synthetic rate (P=0.025), but did not ameliorate the loss of LBM. EAA supplementation resulted in a preservation of plantar flexion strength (p=0.054), stair ascent power (p=0.029), stair descent power (p=0.026), and floor transfer time (p=0.027). Despite the inability of EAA to preserve LBM, muscle function was maintained. EAA supplementation maintains muscle protein turnover and preserves muscle function in older, inactive individuals. Project funded by the National Institutes of Health grant PO1 AG023591 (Evans).