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Protein supplementation augments muscle fiber hypertrophy but does not modulate satellite cell content during prolonged resistance-type exercise training in frail elderly

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OBJECTIVE: Protein supplementation increases gains in lean body mass following prolonged resistance-type exercise training in frail older adults. We assessed whether the greater increase in lean body mass can be attributed to muscle fiber type specific hypertrophy with concomitant changes in satellite cell (SC) content. DESIGN: A total of 34 frail elderly individuals (77 ± 1 years, n = 12 male adults) participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 2 arms in parallel. INTERVENTION: Participants performed 24 weeks of progressive resistance-type exercise training (2 sessions per week) during which they were supplemented twice-daily with milk protein (2 × 15 g) or a placebo. METHODS: Muscle biopsies were taken at baseline, and after 12 and 24 weeks of intervention, to determine type I and type II muscle fiber specific cross-sectional area (CSA), SC content, and myocellular characteristics. RESULTS: In the placebo group, a trend for a 20% ± 11% increase in muscle fiber CSA was observed in type II fibers only (P = .051), with no increase in type I muscle fiber CSA. In the protein group, type I and II muscle fiber CSA increased by 23% ± 7% and 34% ± 10% following 6 months of training, respectively (P < .01). Myonuclear domain size increased over time in both groups and fiber types (P < .001), with no significant differences between groups (P > .05). No changes in myonuclear content and SC contents were observed over time in either group (both P > .05). Regression analysis showed that changes in myonuclear content and domain size are predictive of muscle fiber hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Protein supplementation augments muscle fiber hypertrophy following prolonged resistance-type exercise training in frail older people, without changes in myonuclear and SC content.

Reference Dirks, M. L., Tieland, M., Verdijk, L. B., Losen, M., Nilwik, R., Mensink, M., de Groot, L. C. P. G. M., & van Loon, L. J. C. (2017). Protein supplementation augments muscle fiber hypertrophy but does not modulate satellite cell content during prolonged resistance-type exercise training in frail elderly. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 18(7), 608-615. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2017.02.006
Published by  Faculteit Bewegen, Sport en Voeding 1 July 2017

Publication date

Jul 2017

Author(s)

Marlou L. Dirks
Michael Tieland
Lex B. Verdijk
Mario Losen
Rachel Nilwik
Marco Mensink
Lisette C.P.G.M. de Groot
Luc J.C. van Loon

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