What is the Effect of Insulin Resistance and Loss of Lean Muscle (Sarcopenia) As We Age?
April 12, 2011 by Dr. Marc Darrow, M.D.
Filed under Insulin
Sarcopenia – Loss of Lean Muscle
Leucine – An amino acid found in protein rich foods
Researchers writing in the Journal of The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology say: “A reduced response of older skeletal muscle to anabolic stimuli (exercise & diet) may contribute to the development of sarcopenia.
Skeletal muscle protein synthesis is resistant to the anabolic action of insulin in older subjects, which may be an important contributor to the development of sarcopenia.”
Writing in Diabetes and Metabolism, French Researchers say:
“Structural and functional modifications occur in skeletal muscle during aging. These defects lead to impairment in muscle strength, contractile capacity and performance.
Among factors implicated in this age-related loss of muscle mass, a dysregulation of protein synthesis and breakdown has frequently been reported.
Insulin plays a major role in regulating muscle protein metabolism, since its action contributes to increase net gain of muscle protein in animal and humans.
Insulin resistance develops with aging, classically involving changes in glucose tolerance. However, the effect of insulin on protein metabolism is less well documented, and insulin resistance could be involved in age-related muscle protein loss, progressively leading to sarcopenia. Therefore in a more general concept, insulin resistance found in many clinical settings, could be considered as a contributor to muscle wasting.”
