RESTORATION OF CELL SIGNALING AND MUSCLE PROTEIN SYNTHESIS IN THE ELDERLY

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Background: Older individuals are at greater risk of experiencing a decrease in muscle mass and strength. This may be due to a number of factor, however we are focusing on the potential preventative role of nutrition - specifically a supplement consisting of the amino acid leucine. Hypothesis: We hypothesis that two weeks of leucine supplementation will restore the potential for muscle protein synthesis following a meal that has been shown to be less effective in elderly individuals compared to the young. Specific Aims and Procedures (summary): We will employ techniques to measure muscle protein synthesis (stable isotope methodology) and the mechanisms regulating the synthetic process (mTOR cell signaling) to determine if 2 weeks of leucine supplementation has a beneficial effect the potential for muscle growth in elderly. Experimental Design (summary): We will study a cohort of elderly volunteers over a 14 day period. On days 1 and 14, we will obtain blood and muscle samples to perform our tests. On days 2-13, we will provide volunteers with take-home packets of leucine (4 g each) that they will dissolve in water or juice and consume 3 times/day with their daily meals. We will provide volunteers with a diary to record their normal food intake and monitor their supplement use. Significance (summary): This supplement represents a novel, minimally invasive, preventative intervention that minimizes the additional caloric/volume load associated with previous supplement regimens and has direct application for patient populations and elderly individuals who have a much greater risk of accelerated muscle loss due to illness, injury.