Dr. Barbara Gower
Nutr Sci - Physiology & Metabolism

With age, muscle mass and strength decline. This process is called “sarcopenia.” Sarcopenia results in decreased mobility, increased risk for disease and poor health, and decreased quality of life. Sarcopenia has no known means of prevention or reversal. It is possible that diet quality may lessen or prevent sarcopenia, but this has not been widely investigated. In particular, inclusion of adequate protein in the diet, and perhaps inclusion of certain amino acids, such as leucine, which are known to stimulate muscle protein synthesis, might prevent sarcopenia. This study will examine the roles of dietary protein quantity and supplemental leucine in determining skeletal muscle protein synthesis in older adults.

This study will test the hypotheses that, among healthy older adults: 1) Consumption of 1.2 g/kg/d dietary protein, relative to consumption of 0.8 g/kg/d, results in greater net protein synthesis of skeletal muscle; 2) Leucine vs placebo supplementation, when combined with dietary protein from readily-available foods, acutely (one dose) increases net muscle protein synthesis; 3) Leucine vs placebo supplementation, when combined with dietary protein from readily-available foods, chronically (14 d) increases net muscle protein synthesis. This randomized, controlled, intervention will involve 36 healthy, sedentary men and women aged 70 yr and older. Net muscle protein synthesis will be assessed using stable isotopes. Participants will be offered an opportunity to continue on the program for 6 months to determine the effect of the intervention on muscle size and physical function.

The overall goal of this study is to provide information that can be used to identify a dietary approach to the prevention of sarcopenia that can be implemented easily in a home setting.

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