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Cited by 740Muscle metabolism and nutritionMuscle Physiology and DisordersCardiovascular and exercise physiology

Age‐related differences in the dose–response relationship of muscle protein synthesis to resistance exercise in young and old men

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Kumar, Vinod, Selby, Anna, Rankin, Debbie, Patel, Rekha, Atherton, Philip, Hildebrandt, Wulf, Williams, John, Smith, Kenneth +3 more·2009·The Journal of Physiology
DOI 10.1113/jphysiol.2008.164483PMC PMC2670034
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Abstract

We investigated how myofibrillar protein synthesis (MPS) and muscle anabolic signalling were affected by resistance exercise at 20-90% of 1 repetition maximum (1 RM) in two groups (25 each) of post-absorptive, healthy, young (24 +/- 6 years) and old (70 +/- 5 years) men with identical body mass indices (24 +/- 2 kg m(-2)). We hypothesized that, in response to exercise, anabolic signalling molecule phosphorylation and MPS would be modified in a dose-dependant fashion, but to a lesser extent in older men. Vastus lateralis muscle was sampled before, immediately after, and 1, 2 and 4 h post-exercise. MPS was measured by incorporation of [1,2-(13)C] leucine (gas chromatography-combustion-mass spectrometry using plasma [1,2-(13)C]alpha-ketoisocaparoate as surrogate precursor); the phosphorylation of p70 ribosomal S6 kinase (p70s6K) and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4EBP1) was measured using Western analysis with anti-phosphoantibodies. In each group, there was a sigmoidal dose-response relationship between MPS at 1-2 h post-exercise and exercise intensity, which was blunted (P < 0.05) in the older men. At all intensities, MPS fell in both groups to near-basal values by 2-4 h post-exercise. The phosphorylation of p70s6K and 4EBP1 at 60-90% 1 RM was blunted in older men. At 1 h post-exercise at 60-90% 1 RM, p70s6K phosphorylation predicted the rate of MPS at 1-2 h post-exercise in the young but not in the old. The results suggest that in the post-absorptive state: (i) MPS is dose dependant on intensity rising to a plateau at 60-90% 1 RM; (ii) older men show anabolic resistance of signalling and MPS to resistance exercise.

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Crossref · 10.1113/jphysiol.2008.164483

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  • Studies showing an impairment in the anabolic response with light loads employed work-matched protocols whereby participants stopped the low-load sets well short of fatigue.

    “Specifically, studies showing an impairment in the anabolic response with light loads employed work-matched protocols whereby participants stopped the low-load sets well short of fatigue [37,38].”

    From Loading recommendations for muscle strength, hypertrophy, and local endurance: a re-examination of the repetition continuum. (2021) · cites this paper as [37]

    The Methods (page not available) describe sets with predetermined repetition counts designed to match work across loads, and the Results report smaller increases in muscle protein synthesis at 20–40% of 1 RM than at heavier loads. The paper does not state how close participants were to fatigue, so it does not establish that the low-load sets stopped well short of it. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • Some studies show an impaired acute muscle protein synthetic response when training with lower loads, while others report similar increases in mixed and myofibrillar protein synthesis rates.

    “Some studies show an impaired acute MPS response when training with lower loads [37,38] while others report similar increases in mixed and myofibrillar protein synthesis rates [39].”

    From Loading recommendations for muscle strength, hypertrophy, and local endurance: a re-examination of the repetition continuum. (2021) · cites this paper as [37]

  • Sarcopenia aetiology is multi-factorial, driven by progressive anabolic resistance to nutrition and physical activity, and age-related structural, metabolic and hormonal changes; it is more prominent in adults of lower socioeconomic status.

    “Sarcopenia aetiology is multi-factorial, driven by progressive anabolic resistance to nutrition and physical activity [36, 37], and age-related structural (vertebral compression and unfavourable fat deposition [38]), metabolic (reduced basal metabolic rate [39]) and hormonal (lower circulating anabolic hormones (testosterone, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1)) changes; more promin”

    From Obesity pharmacotherapy in older adults: a narrative review of evidence (2025) · cites this paper as [37]

  • n-3 PUFAs may be an effective strategy to rescue anabolic sensitivity in healthy older individuals with anabolic resistance.

    “Nonetheless, these findings provide evidence that n-3 PUFAs may be an effective strategy to rescue anabolic sensitivity in healthy older individuals purported to be ‘anabolic resistance’, as observed by attenuated MPS responses when compared to healthy young individuals in response to protein ingestion [3,7] and exercise [105].”

    From Potential Roles of n-3 PUFAs during Skeletal Muscle Growth and Regeneration (2018) · cites this paper as [105]

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Bowtell JL, Park DM, Smith K, Cuthbertson DJR, Waddell T, Rennie MJ. Stimulation of human quadriceps protein synthesis after strenous exercise: no effects of varying intensity between 60 and 90% of one repetition maximum (1RM) J Physiol. 2003;547.P:P16. [Google Scholar]

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Authors
Kumar, V., Selby, A., Rankin, D., Patel, R., Atherton, P., Hildebrandt, W., Williams, J., Smith, K., Seynnes, O., Hiscock, N., & Rennie, M. J.
Affiliations
  • University of Nottingham (GB)
  • Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
  • Manchester Metropolitan University (GB)
  • Unilever (United Kingdom) (GB)
Corresponding author
Rennie, Michael J.
ORCID
Venue
The Journal of Physiology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2009-01
Volume
587
Issue
1
Pages
211-217
ISSN
  • 0022-3751 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7793
DOI
10.1113/jphysiol.2008.164483
PMC
PMC2670034
OpenAlex
W1838896829
Cited by
740
References
30
Citations by year
2026: 20 · 2025: 32 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 48 · 2019: 53 · 2018: 54 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 63 · 2015: 50 · 2014: 37 · 2013: 37 · 2012: 64
FWCI
15.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 1 d)
Locations
  • The Journal of Physiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • e-space (Manchester Metropolitan University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/X5106971, BB/C516779/1)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
Keywords
muscle protein synthesis, resistance training, age differences, dose-response relationship, p70 S6 kinase, 4E-BP1 phosphorylation, vastus lateralis, older men, postabsorptive state, anabolic resistance, exercise intensity, leucine incorporation
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aging, Humans, Male, Muscle Proteins, Myofibrils, Phosphoproteins, Phosphorylation, Signal Transduction, Exercise, Muscle, Skeletal, Muscle Fibers, Skeletal, Cell Cycle Proteins, Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa, Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing, Resistance Training, Young Adult

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