Cited by 240Muscle metabolism and nutritionNutrition and Health in AgingMuscle Physiology and Disorders

Aging does not impair the anabolic response to a protein-rich meal

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Symons, T Brock, Schutzler, Scott E, Cocke, Tara L, Chinkes, David L, Wolfe, Robert R, Paddon-Jones, Douglas·2007·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Abstract

Background Sarcopenia is a debilitating condition afflicting the elderly that may be facilitated by insufficient or ineffectual intake of dietary protein. We previously showed that free-form essential amino acids acutely stimulate muscle protein synthesis in both the young and the elderly. However, the ability of an actual protein-rich food to stimulate anabolism in the young and the elderly has not been explored.Objective We aimed to characterize changes in plasma amino acid concentrations and to quantify muscle protein synthesis in healthy young (41 +/- 8 y old; n = 10) and elderly (70 +/- 5 y old; n = 10) persons after ingestion of a 113-g (4-oz) serving of lean beef.Design Venous blood samples and vastus lateralis muscle biopsy samples were obtained during a primed (2.0 mumol/kg) constant infusion (0.08 mumol.kg(-1).min(-1)) of l-[ring-(13)C(6)] phenylalanine. Plasma amino acid concentrations were measured and a mixed-muscle fractional synthesis rate (FSR) was calculated during the premeal period and for 5 h after beef ingestion.Results Mixed-muscle FSR increased by approximately 51% in both the elderly (mean +/- SE measurements: 0.072 +/- 0.004%/h and 0.108 +/- 0.006%/h before and after the meal, respectively) and the young (0.074 +/- 0.005%/h and 0.113 +/- 0.005%/h before and after the meal, respectively) after beef ingestion (P < 0.001). Plasma amino acid concentrations peaked at approximately 100 min after beef ingestion in both age groups but were substantially higher in the elderly (2185 +/- 134 nmol/mL compared with 1403 +/- 96 nmol/mL; P < 0.001).Conclusion Despite differences in the concentration of amino acids in the plasma precursor pool, aging does not impair the ability to acutely synthesize muscle protein after ingestion of a common protein-rich food.

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Wilson MMG, Morley JE. Aging and energy balance. J Appl Physiol 2003;95:1728 -36.
  2. Morley JE, Baumgartner RN, Roubenoff R, Mayer J, Nair KS. Sarcope- nia. J Lab Clin Med 2001;137:231-43.

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Authors
Symons, T. B., Schutzler, S. E., Cocke, T. L., Chinkes, D. L., Wolfe, R. R., & Paddon-Jones, D.
Affiliations
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (US)
Venue
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2007-08
Volume
86
Issue
2
Pages
451-456
ISSN
0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2144001753
Cited by
240
References
33
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 22
FWCI
7.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Aging (P30AG024832)
  • National Center for Research Resources (M01 RR-00073, M01RR000073)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
Keywords
aging, sarcopenia, muscle protein synthesis, dietary protein, protein-rich meals, lean beef, plasma amino acids, essential amino acids, fractional synthesis rate, vastus lateralis
MeSH terms
Adipose Tissue, Adult, Aged, Aging, Amino Acids, Amino Acids, Essential, Carbon Isotopes, Dietary Proteins, Female, Humans, Infusions, Intravenous, Male, Meat, Middle Aged, Phenylalanine, Body Mass Index

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