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Diet in preventing late-life muscle loss

Scientists at the University of Southampton have shown that although some studies find diet can enhance the effects of exercise to prevent muscle loss in later life, current evidence about what works is inconsistent.

Between the ages of 40 and 80, an estimated 30% to 50% of muscle mass is lost, resulting in lower strength and less ability to carry out everyday tasks. This process – known as sarcopenia – is common and clearly linked to frailty and poorer health in older people. The associated health care costs are substantial.

Exercise training and diet supplementation have been shown to be effective in preventing sarcopenia in some studies, but little is known about the combined effects of training with supplements, particularly in older people. In the latest study, scientists from the Medical Research Council (MRC) lifecourse epidemiology unit at the University of Southampton carried out a review of combined diet and exercise training trials in men and women aged over 65 years old. Almost 5,000 scientific articles were screened, with more than 100 reviewed in detail and 17 of these were included in the review. The review shows that findings differ across studies and suggests more research is needed.

Professor Sian Robinson, who led the review, says, "poor diets and being physically inactive are common in older age. Understanding the benefits of maintaining sufficient levels of physical activity and diet quality to prevent sarcopenia is therefore a priority. Although some studies have found enhanced effects of exercise training when combined with diet supplementation, our review shows that current evidence is incomplete and inconsistent. Further research to determine the benefits of supplementation and exercise training for older people is therefore needed."

[link url="http://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2015/05/13-can-diet-and-exercise-prevent-muscle-loss-in-old-age.page"]University of Southampton material[/link]
[link url="http://www.dovepress.com/prevention-and-optimal-management-of-sarcopenia-a-review-of-combined-e-peer-reviewed-article-CIA"]Clinical Interventions in Ageing abstract[/link]

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