In this study will measure differences in how muscle responds to both exercise and protein supplements in healthy women aged 60-69. We are studying two different protein supplements- a standard Whey Protein and a Leucine enriched supplement. Each patient would receive either one of these.
One of the factors that plays an important role in the loss of functional performance and, as such, the capacity to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle is the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass with ageing (i.e., sarcopenia). Indeed, sarcopenia is a more robust predictor of functional status and mortality in the elderly than chronological age or indeed, any other co-morbidity. Sarcopenia is an incipient process whereby lean muscle mass contributing up to \~50% of total body weight in young adults declines to \~25% when reaching the age of 75-80 y. Adequate nutritional intake, and in particular dietary protein, is important for offsetting age-related declines in muscle mass. The aim of this project is to seek the most effective nutrition with which to counteract sarcopenia, specifically in women.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
48
University of Nottingham (Derby campus)
Derby, Derbyshire, United Kingdom
Muscle protein synthesis and muscle protein breakdown
Markers of muscle protein synthesis and breakdown are determined from muscle biopsy samples in form of myofibrillar Fractional Synthetic Rate (FSR) assessed by gas-chromatography-combustion-mass spectrometry, using incorporation of a stable isotope tracer (13-C-6 Phe)
Time frame: 7 Hours
Blood flow (bulk and nutritive) and intramuscular cell signalling
1. Leg blood flow via Common femoral bulk flow (Doppler ultrasound) 2. Microvascular blood flow via contrast enhanced ultrasound 3. Mammalian Target of Rapamycin-1 (mTORC1) and Protein Kinase B (PKB or AKT) phosphorylation via western immunoblotting
Time frame: 7 Hours
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