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Impact of exercise training on muscle mitochondria modifications in older adults: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

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Abstract

Background

Previous evidence showed that cellular aging is a multifactorial process that is associated with decline in mitochondrial function. Physical exercise has been proposed as an effective and safe therapeutical intervention to improve the mitochondria network in the adult myocytes.

Aims

The aim of this systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to assess the exercise-induced muscle mitochondria modifications in older adults, underlining the differences related to different exercise modalities.

Methods

On November 28th, 2021, five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and PEDro) were systematically searched for RCTs to include articles with: healthy older people as participants; physical exercise (endurance training (ET), resistance training (RT), and combined training (CT)) as intervention; other different exercise modalities or physical inactivity as comparator; mitochondrial modifications (quality, density and dynamics, oxidative, and antioxidant capacity) as outcomes. The quality assessment was performed according to the PEDro scale; the bias risk was evaluated by Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool.

Results

Out of 2940 records, 6 studies were included (2 assessing ET, 2 RT, 1 CT, and 1 both ET and RT). Taken together, 164 elderly subjects were included in the present systematic review. Significant positive effects were reported in terms of mitochondrial quality, density, dynamics, oxidative and antioxidant capacity, even though with different degrees according to the exercise type. The quality assessment reported one good-quality study, whereas the other five studies had a fair quality.

Discussion

The overall low quality of the studies on this topic indicate that further research is needed.

Conclusion

RT seems to be the most studied physical exercise modality improving mitochondrial density and dynamics, while ET have been related to mitochondrial antioxidant capacity improvements. However, these exercise-induced specific effects should be better explored in older people.

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Funding

The study was not funded.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont “A. Avogadro”, Novara, Italy

    Lorenzo Lippi & Marco Invernizzi

  2. Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia”, Catanzaro, Italy

    Alessandro de Sire & Antonio Ammendolia

  3. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

    Kamal Mezian

  4. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Neurosciences, ASST Carlo Poma, Mantova, Italy

    Claudio Curci

  5. Rehabilitation Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy

    Luca Perrero & Alessio Turco

  6. Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy

    Silvia Andaloro & Nicola Fusco

  7. Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Silvia Andaloro

  8. Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Nicola Fusco

  9. Dipartimento Attività Integrate Ricerca e Innovazione (DAIRI), Translational Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy

    Marco Invernizzi

  10. Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia”, Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy

    Alessandro de Sire

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  1. Lorenzo Lippi
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  2. Alessandro de Sire
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  3. Kamal Mezian
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  10. Marco Invernizzi
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Contributions

Study design and conceptualization: LL, AdS, and MI; Database searching: LL, AdS, MI; Data screening: LL, AdS, MI; Data extraction LL, AdS, MI; Data synthesis and interpretation: LL, AdS, MI; Manuscript drafting: LL, AdS; Critical revision: NF, MI; Visualization: KM, CC, LP, AT, SA, AA; Study supervision: AdS, MI; Study submission: AdS. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Alessandro de Sire.

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Lippi, L., de Sire, A., Mezian, K. et al. Impact of exercise training on muscle mitochondria modifications in older adults: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Aging Clin Exp Res 34, 1495–1510 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-021-02073-w

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