What can prevent muscle wastage?
Wednesday May 13th, 2015
The evidence on the effects of diet and exercise on ageing is unclear and inconsistent, researchers say today.
Professor Sian Robinson and colleagues at Southampton University, UK, reviewed a number of studies addressing the question of whether dietary supplements together with exercise can prevent muscle loss in later life.
The experts explain that 30% to 50% of muscle mass is lost between the ages of 40 and 80. The consequences can be severe, limiting the ability to carry out everyday tasks and raising fracture risk.
With the increasing number of older people worldwide, the cost of muscle wastage is rising. There is a clear need to develop approaches to counteract the effects of muscle loss and help in reducing the age-related decline and disability.
So the team screened nearly 5,000 scientific articles, reviewed 100 in detail, and included 17 of these in their analysis. But there was no clear result, as findings differed across the studies.
"Poor diets and being physically inactive are common in older age," says Professor Robinson. "Understanding the benefits of maintaining sufficient levels of physical activity and diet quality to prevent muscle wasting 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."
Co-researcher Professor Avan Aihie Sayer commented: "Muscle wasting is now recognised as a major clinical problem for older people. Gaining insights into the effects of lifestyle on losses of muscle mass and strength will be essential for the development of future public health strategies to promote better health in later life."
Robinson, S. et al. The study Prevention and optimal management of sarcopenia: A review of combined exercise and nutrition interventions to improve muscle outcomes in older people. Clinical Interventions in Aging 13 May 2015
Tags: Elderly Health | Fitness | UK News
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