Cited by 323Cardiovascular and exercise physiologyMitochondrial Function and PathologyMuscle metabolism and nutrition

Skeletal muscle mitochondrial energetics are associated with maximal aerobic capacity and walking speed in older adults

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Coen, Paul M., Jubrias, Sharon A., Distefano, Giovanna, Amati, Francesca, Mackey, Dawn C., Glynn, Nancy W., Manini, Todd M., Wohlgemuth, Stephanie E. +8 more·2013·The Journals of Gerontology: Series A

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Lower ambulatory performance with aging may be related to a reduced oxidative capacity within skeletal muscle. This study examined the associations between skeletal muscle mitochondrial capacity and efficiency with walking performance in a group of older adults. METHODS: Thirty-seven older adults (mean age 78 years; 21 men and 16 women) completed an aerobic capacity (VO2 peak) test and measurement of preferred walking speed over 400 m. Maximal coupled (State 3; St3) mitochondrial respiration was determined by high-resolution respirometry in saponin-permeabilized myofibers obtained from percutanous biopsies of vastus lateralis (n = 22). Maximal phosphorylation capacity (ATPmax) of vastus lateralis was determined in vivo by (31)P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (n = 30). Quadriceps contractile volume was determined by magnetic resonance imaging. Mitochondrial efficiency (max ATP production/max O2 consumption) was characterized using ATPmax per St3 respiration (ATPmax/St3). RESULTS: In vitro St3 respiration was significantly correlated with in vivo ATPmax (r (2) = .47, p = .004). Total oxidative capacity of the quadriceps (St3*quadriceps contractile volume) was a determinant of VO2 peak (r (2) = .33, p = .006). ATPmax (r (2) = .158, p = .03) and VO2 peak (r (2) = .475, p < .0001) were correlated with preferred walking speed. Inclusion of both ATPmax/St3 and VO2 peak in a multiple linear regression model improved the prediction of preferred walking speed (r (2) = .647, p < .0001), suggesting that mitochondrial efficiency is an important determinant for preferred walking speed. CONCLUSIONS: Lower mitochondrial capacity and efficiency were both associated with slower walking speed within a group of older participants with a wide range of function. In addition to aerobic capacity, lower mitochondrial capacity and efficiency likely play roles in slowing gait speed with age.

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Crossref · 10.1093/gerona/gls196

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  • Age-related skeletal muscle deficits contribute to reductions in cardiorespiratory fitness, exercise tolerance, and overall physical function.

    “Collectively, these age-related skeletal muscle deficits contribute to reductions in cardiorespiratory fitness (peak oxygen uptake [Vo2 peak]), exercise tolerance, and overall physical function (9, 10).”
  • Loss of mitochondrial energetics in sub-optimal aging contributes to slower walking speed, fatigability, multimorbidity, frailty and sarcopenia.

    “recent studies have shown that loss of mitochondrial energetics in sub-optimal aging contributes to slower walking speed [[355], [356], [357], [358]], fatigability [359], multimorbidity [360], frailty [361] and sarcopenia [345,362].”
  • Walking reduces the risk of dementia in a dose-dependent manner, with walking less than 0.25 miles per day compared to walking >2 miles per day, controlling for other risk factors.

    “For instance, in a prospective cohort study, walking reduced the risk of dementia in a dose-dependent manner, with walking less than 0.25 miles per day compared to walking > 2 miles per day, controlling for other risk factors [356].”
  • In a prospective cohort study, walking reduced risk of dementia in a dose-dependent manner, with walking less than 0.25 miles per day compared to walking >2 miles per day, controlling for other risk factors.

    “For instance, in a prospective cohort study, walking reduced the risk of dementia in a dose-dependent manner, with walking less than 0.25 miles per day compared to walking > 2 miles per day, controlling for other risk factors [356].”
  • Evidence to date strongly implicates mitochondria as having a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of age-related functional decline, and reductions in autophagy appear to be a critical biological mechanism affecting the collective function of the mitochondrial pool.

    “Thus, evidence to date strongly implicates the mitochondria as having a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of age-related functional decline,(Coen, Jubrias, Distefano, Amati, Mackey, Glynn, Manini, Wohlgemuth, Leeuwenburgh, Cummings, Newman, Ferrucci, Toledo, Shankland, Conley, and Goodpaster 2013) and reductions in autophagy appear to be a critical biological mechanism affecting the collective”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Proctor DN, Joyner MJ. Skeletal muscle mass and the reduc- tion of VO 2 max in trained older subjects. J Appl Physiol. 1997;82:1411-1415.
  2. Richardson RS, Grassi B, Gavin TP, et al. Evidence of O2 supply- dependent VO2 max in the exercise-trained human quadriceps. J Appl Physiol. 1999;86:1048-1053.

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Authors
Coen, P. M., Jubrias, S. A., Distefano, G., Amati, F., Mackey, D. C., Glynn, N. W., Manini, T. M., Wohlgemuth, S. E., Leeuwenburgh, C., Cummings, S. R., Newman, A. B., Ferrucci, L., Toledo, F. G. S., Shankland, E., Conley, K. E., & Goodpaster, B. H.
Affiliations
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
  • University of Washington Medical Center (US)
  • California Pacific Medical Center (US)
  • University of Florida (US)
  • National Institute on Aging (US)
Venue
The Journals of Gerontology: Series A
Published
2012-10-09
Volume
68
Issue
4
Pages
447-455
ISSN
  • 1079-5006 (ISSN-L)
  • 1758-535X
OpenAlex
W2115546051
Cited by
323
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 40 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 43 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 1
FWCI
30.39
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Journals of Gerontology Series A (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • SERVAL (Université de Lausanne) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • IRIS (submittedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • University of Pittsburgh (P30-AG024827, UL1RR024153, RR024153)
  • National Institutes of Health (UL1TR000005)
  • National Institute on Aging (RC2AG036594, RC2AG036606, P30AG024827, P30AG028740)
  • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R01 AR 41928, R01AR041928)
  • National Center for Research Resources (RR-024153, UL1RR024153)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
Keywords
skeletal muscle mitochondria, mitochondrial respiration, maximal aerobic capacity, peak oxygen uptake, walking speed, older adults, mitochondrial efficiency, oxidative capacity, vastus lateralis, aging
MeSH terms
Age Factors, Aged, Biopsy, Energy Metabolism, Postural Balance, Female, Humans, Male, Mitochondria, Muscle, Muscle Contraction, Oxygen Consumption, Physical Endurance, Physical Fitness, Walking, Muscle, Skeletal, Quadriceps Muscle

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