Sarcopenia Part 2
As mentioned in Part One, along with exercise, which is mandatory both for better prevention and rehabilitation, nutritional and even supplements as interventions are crucially important in helping contribute to preventing its development as well as its reversal, especially for less complicated age-related sarcopenia.
This is important because, as with osteoporosis and osteopenia, as well as sarcopenia, there can be an inflammatory component that is part of the disease syndrome, and mitochondrial dysfunction has a monumental role in the etiology of lean-tissue deterioration because of the down-regulation of key mitochondrial genes in our DNA that can be controlled and largely influenced by its “epigene” ( Epigenetics).
That means. a particular substance, in this case, a “positive-enhancing” nutrient, nutraceutical, or a specifically designed pharmaceutical sits on top of the gene and is a “switch” that will turn off or on that gene let’s say for the better, but there are a number of other means, from toxins, disturbed metabolism, harmful drugs or drug interactions, alcohol, bad dietary decisions, even from lack of exercise, etc, that can provide an “adverse” epigene that can get control and switch on the gene to create a more negative manifestation of that specific gene expression.
Several very specific powerful epigene dietary supplement facilitators are noted below: There are many not mentioned and many still in discovery, but this is a start.
1.Astaxanthin with zinc supplementation noted in the research study:
Effect of long-term dietary astaxanthin intake on sarcopenia
Abstract Conclusions: The AX formulation improved muscle strength and CSA in healthy elderly in addition to the elevation in endurance and walking distance found with exercise training alone. Thus, the AX formulation in combination with a functional training program uniquely improved muscle strength, endurance, and mobility in the elderly.
October 2008
Tairyoku Kagaku. Japanese journal of physical fitness and sports medicine 57(5):541-552
2. PQQ Inhibiting muscle atrophy and help protect against neuromuscular denervation in muscle wasting syndromes ( and upregulated mitochondrial function)
PLoS One. 2015; 10(12): e0143600.
Published online 2015 Dec 8. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.
3. NAD+ Precursors and Possible NMN in Epi-genetic facilitation in preventing muscle wasting:
Nestle-EpiGen joint sarcopenia study: Mitochondria dysfunction in muscles a key cause of sarcopenia
PM: 2014;2014:834294.
Ngoc Hoan Le 1 , Chu-Sook Kim 1 , Taesun Park 2 , Jung Han Yoon Park 3 , Mi-Kyung Sung 4 , Dong Gun Lee 5 , Sun-Myung Hong 1 , Suck-Young Choe 1 , Tsuyoshi Goto 6 , Teruo Kawada 6 , Rina Yu 1
5. Selenium:
Another potential nutrient that may positively affect sarcopenia outcomes is selenium. In our review, we included 4 studies that showed a positive association of selenium and muscle mass, physical performance, and sarcopenia. Association of low plasma selenium concentrations with poor muscle strength in older community-dwelling adults:
Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Aug; 86(2): 347–352.
Circling back to protein and exercise, protein intake and physical activity are the main anabolic stimuli for muscle protein synthesis thus significant for sarcopenia and general health.
As optimal dietary protein intake, 1.0 – 1.2 g/kg (body weight)/day with an optimal repartition over each daily meal or 25 – 30 g of high-quality protein per meal were recommended to prevent sarcopenia, which was supported by many studies.
Protein supplementation, protein foods, containing key amino acid in protein, leucine, with vitamin D3 and zinc has been amply investigated to improve muscle quality in sarcopenic people in the must context of a good foundation diet.
In summary, to outline a possible overall additional supplement program inclusive of one or more of the following may prove beneficial to consider with or under professional advisement:
1. Protein sources beyond an essential good and balanced diet: Whey, Pea, Various balanced plant and microbiological proteins such as algae, mushroom, etc, Collagen, HMB, Advanced deodorized agglomerated fish protein
2. Extra Nutrients: Vitamin D3, Vitamin K2, Natural tocopherols, zinc, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium as magnesium glycinate, trace minerals. B-complex, Vitamin C, and E,
3. Super antioxidants and mitochondrial facilitators: Astaxanthin, PQQ, NAD precursors, Quercetin, selenium ( especially effective as found in a natural grown cruciferous vegetable complex).
Thank you, Dr. Koz