Melinda Sheffield-Moore

Differential stimulation of muscle protein synthesis in elderly humans following isocaloric ingestion of amino acids or whey protein

To counteract the debilitating progression of sarcopenia, a protein supplement should provide an energetically efficient anabolic stimulus. We quantified net muscle protein synthesis in healthy elderly individuals (65-79 yrs) following ingestion of an isocaloric intact whey protein supplement (WY; n=8) or an essential amino acid supplement (EAA; n=7). Femoral arterio-venous blood samples and vastus lateralis muscle biopsy samples were obtained during a primed, constant infusion of L-[ring-2H5]phenylalanine. Net phenylalanine uptake and mixed muscle fractional synthetic rate (FSR) were calculated during the post-absorptive period and for 3.5 h following ingestion of 15 g EAA or 15 g whey. After accounting for the residual increase in the intracellular phenylalanine pool, net post-prandial phenylalanine uptake was 53.4+/-9.7 mg phe leg-1 (EAA) and 21.7+/-4.6 mg phe leg-1 (WY), (P<0.05). Postabsorptive FSR values were 0.056+/-0.004% h-1 (EAA) and 0.049+/-0.006% h-1 (WY), (P>0.05). Both supplements stimulated FSR (P<0.05), but the increase was greatest in the EAA group with values of 0.088+/-0.011% h-1 (EAA) and 0.066+/-0.004% h-1 (WY), (P<0.05). While both EAA and WY supplements stimulated muscle protein synthesis, EAAs may provide a more energetically efficient nutritional supplement for elderly individuals.

Artificial gravity maintains skeletal muscle protein synthesis during 21 days of simulated microgravity

We sought to determine the effects of longitudinal loading (artificial gravity) on skeletal muscle protein kinetics in 15 healthy young males after 21 days of 6 degrees head-down tilt bed rest [experimental treatment (Exp) group: n = 8, 31 +/- 1 yr; control (Con) group; n = 7, 28 +/- 1 yr, means +/- SE]. On days 1 and 21 of bed rest, postabsorptive venous blood samples and muscle biopsies (vastus lateralis and soleus) were obtained during a 1-h pulse bolus infusion protocol (0 min, l-[ring-(13)C(6)]phenylalanine, 35 mumol/kg; 30 min, l-[ring-(15)N]phenylalanine, 35 mumol/kg). Outcome measures included mixed muscle fractional synthesis (FSR) and breakdown rates (FBR). The Exp group experienced 1 h of longitudinal loading (2.5G at the feet) via a short-radius centrifuge during each day of bed rest. Mixed muscle FSR in the Con group was reduced by 48.5% (day 1, 0.081 +/- 0.000%/h vs. day 21, 0.042 +/- 0.000%/h; P = 0.001) in vastus lateralis after 21 days of bed rest, whereas the Exp group maintained their rate of protein synthesis. A similar but nonsignificant change in FSR was noted for the soleus muscle (Exp, -7%; Con, -22%). No changes in muscle protein breakdown were observed. In conclusion, 1 h of daily exposure to artificial gravity maintained the rate of protein synthesis of the vastus lateralis and may represent an effective adjunct countermeasure to combat the loss of muscle mass and functional during extended spaceflight.