Cited by 1,443Nutrition and Health in AgingMuscle Physiology and DisordersMuscle metabolism and nutrition

Aging of skeletal muscle: a 12-yr longitudinal study

Frontera, Walter R., Hughes, Virginia A., Fielding, Roger A., Fiatarone, Maria A., Evans, William J., Roubenoff, Ronenn·2000·Journal of Applied Physiology

Abstract

The present study examines age-related changes in skeletal muscle size and function after 12 yr. Twelve healthy sedentary men were studied in 1985–86 (T1) and nine (initial mean age 65.4 ± 4.2 yr) were reevaluated in 1997–98 (T2). Isokinetic muscle strength of the knee and elbow extensors and flexors showed losses ( P < 0.05) ranging from 20 to 30% at slow and fast angular velocities. Computerized tomography ( n = 7) showed reductions ( P < 0.05) in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the thigh (12.5%), all thigh muscles (14.7%), quadriceps femoris muscle (16.1%), and flexor muscles (14.9%). Analysis of covariance showed that strength at T1 and changes in CSA were independent predictors of strength at T2. Muscle biopsies taken from vastus lateralis muscles ( n = 6) showed a reduction in percentage of type I fibers (T1 = 60% vs. T2 = 42%) with no change in mean area in either fiber type. The capillary-to-fiber ratio was significantly lower at T2 (1.39 vs. 1.08; P = 0.043). Our observations suggest that a quantitative loss in muscle CSA is a major contributor to the decrease in muscle strength seen with advancing age and, together with muscle strength at T1, accounts for 90% of the variability in strength at T2.

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Crossref · 10.1152/jappl.2000.88.4.1321

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Authors
Frontera, W. R., Hughes, V. A., Fielding, R. A., Fiatarone, M. A., Evans, W. J., & Roubenoff, R.
Affiliations
  • Tufts University (US)
  • Boston University (US)
  • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (US)
Venue
Journal of Applied Physiology
Published
2000-04-01
Volume
88
Issue
4
Pages
1321-1326
ISSN
  • 0161-7567 (ISSN-L)
  • 8750-7587
  • 1522-1601
OpenAlex
W2184656706
Cited by
1,443
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 30 · 2025: 44 · 2024: 46 · 2023: 71 · 2022: 59 · 2021: 83 · 2020: 83 · 2019: 88 · 2018: 81 · 2017: 57 · 2016: 70 · 2015: 71 · 2014: 80 · 2013: 71 · 2012: 67
FWCI
14.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
Keywords
skeletal muscle aging, sarcopenia, muscle strength decline, cross-sectional area, thigh muscle, quadriceps, vastus lateralis, muscle fiber type, type I muscle fibers, capillary-to-fiber ratio, isokinetic strength
MeSH terms
Aged, Aging, Capillaries, Elbow Joint, Humans, Isometric Contraction, Knee Joint, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Time Factors, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Muscle, Skeletal, Muscle Fibers, Skeletal, Muscle Development

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