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Effects of running wheel activity and dietary HMB and B—alanine co-supplementation on muscle quality in aged male rats

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The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objective

Loss of skeletal muscle function is linked to increased risk for loss of health and independence in older adults. Dietary interventions that can enhance aging muscle function, alone or in combination with exercise, may offer an effective way to reduce these risks. The goal of this study was to evaluate the muscular effects of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) and beta-alanine (β-Ala) co-supplementation in aged Sprague-Dawley rats with voluntary access to running wheels (RW).

Methods

Aged (20 months) rats were housed with ad libitum access to RW while on a purified diet for 4 weeks, then balanced for RW activity and assigned to either a control or an experimental diet (control + HMB and β-Ala) for the next 4 weeks (n = 10/group). At the end of the study, we assessed muscle size, in situ force and fatigability in the medial gastrocnemius muscles, as well as an array of protein markers related to various age- and activity-responsive signaling pathways.

Results

Dietary HMB+β-Ala did not improve muscle force or fatigue resistance, but a trend for increased muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) was observed (P = 0.077). As a result, rats on the experimental diet exhibited reduced muscle quality (force/CSA; P = 0.032). Dietary HMB+β-Ala reduced both the abundance of PGC1-α (P = 0.050) and the ratio of the lipidated to non-lipidated forms of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta (P = 0.004), markers of mitochondrial biogenesis and autophagy, respectively. Some alterations in myostatin signaling also occurred in the dietary HMB+β-Ala group. There was an unexpected difference (P = 0.046) in RW activity, which increased throughout the study in the animals on the control diet, but not in animals on the experimental diet.

Conclusions

These data suggest that the short-term addition of dietary HMB+β-Ala to modest physical activity provided little enhancement of muscle function in this model of uncomplicated aging.

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Author notes

  1. N. K. Edens

    Present address: Common Threads, 3811 Bee Cave Rd, Ste. 108, Austin, TX, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Integrative Muscle Biology, Division of Physical Therapy, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA

    David W. Russ, C. Acksel & K. W. McCorkle

  2. Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute (OMNI), Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, OH, USA

    David W. Russ

  3. Division of Nutrition, School of Applied Health Sciences and Wellness, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA

    C. Acksel

  4. Abbott Nutrition R&D, 3300 Stelzer Road, Columbus, OH, USA

    N. K. Edens & S. M. Garvey

  5. Division of Physical Therapy , School of Rehab & Communication Sciences, Ohio University, W279 Grover Center, Athens, OH, 45701, USA

    David W. Russ

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Russ, D.W., Acksel, C., McCorkle, K.W. et al. Effects of running wheel activity and dietary HMB and B—alanine co-supplementation on muscle quality in aged male rats. J Nutr Health Aging 21, 554–561 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-016-0810-2

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