Nutritional strategies to attenuate muscle disuse atrophy

B.T. Wall, L.J.C. van Loon*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Situations such as recovery from injury or illness require otherwise humans to undergo periods of disuse, which lead to considerable losses skeletal muscle mass and, subsequently, numerous negative health has been established that prolonged disuse (>10 days) leads to a decline and postprandial rates of muscle protein synthesis, without an apparent muscle protein breakdown. It also seems, however, that an early and (1-5 days) increase in basal muscle protein breakdown may also disuse atrophy. A period of disuse reduces energy requirements and Consequently, food intake generally declines, resulting in an inadequate protein consumption to allow proper muscle mass maintenance. Evidence that maintaining protein intake during a period of disuse attenuates atrophy. Furthermore, supplementation with dietary protein and/or acids can be applied to further aid in muscle mass preservation during Such strategies are of particular relevance to the older patient at risk developing sarcopenia. More work is required to elucidate the impact of basal and postprandial rates of muscle protein synthesis and breakdown. information will provide novel targets for nutritional interventions to attenuate muscle disuse atrophy and, as such, support healthy aging.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)195-208
JournalNutrition Reviews
Volume71
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2013

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