Nutrition and Supplements, Regenerative Medicine News and General Information
Gut Microbiome and Urolithin A May Help Combat Muscle Decline in Aging
May
Older adults (aged 60 years) are the fastest-growing age group in the world and are projected to represent 1 in every 4 adults by 2050. Aging is associated with a progressive loss of muscle mass and strength that manifests as reduced physical performance and endurance capacity, imposing a burden on both the individual and society.
Evidence has shown that mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in age-related diseases. In skeletal muscle, the decline in mitochondrial efficiency and capacity for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production is associated with decreased performance and increased fatigue.
With aging a progressive decline in the cell’s capacity to eliminate dysfunctional mitochondria called mitophagy contributes to poor mitochondrial quality, and restoring levels of this capacity could be a way to improve mitochondrial function.
Urolithin A is a food metabolite of the gut microbiome that has been shown to stimulate mitophagy and improve muscle function in animals.
In a recently published study, researchers found that older adults who take a urolithin A supplement may have improved muscle endurance, reduced inflammation, and healthier mitochondria. The study appears in the journal JAMA Network Open.
For the study, the team included a total of 66 participants with a mean age of 72 years and randomly assigned them to take either 1,000 mg of urolithin A per day for 4 months or a placebo.
The researchers measured the maximum number of times participants could contract a particular muscle in their hand and leg before fatigue set in. The participants were also asked to walk as far as they could in 6 minutes on an indoor track.
The team found that those taking the supplement had small improvements in walking endurance, significantly better lab tests of muscle endurance, and less inflammation.
Source:
Sophia Liu, et al. Effect of Urolithin A Supplementation on Muscle Endurance and Mitochondrial Health in Older Adults A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(1):e2144279. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.44279.
Image from:
