Age-Related Anabolic Resistance: Nutritional and Exercise Strategies, and Potential Relevance to Life-Long Exercisers.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review without systematic search methodology or primary human data
PubMed 41305554 · doi:10.3390/nu17223503
What was done
This narrative review synthesized evidence on age-related anabolic resistance, focusing on master athletes as a model to distinguish chronological aging from physical inactivity. It evaluated literature on post-exercise and postprandial muscle anabolic responses and summarized proposed nutritional strategies, including elevated daily protein intake and supplements such as branched-chain amino acids (leucine), β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB), and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data, sample sizes, or effect estimates. It notes limited evidence indicating that lifelong-trained older individuals still exhibit a blunted post-exercise muscle anabolic response compared to younger athletes. It also notes a paucity of data systematically comparing postprandial responses to varying protein doses in young versus older athletes, and suggests an intake near 1.6–2.0 g/kg/day alongside specific supplements for master athletes.
Why it matters
It highlights that high lifetime physical activity alone may not entirely protect against age-related anabolic resistance, suggesting older athletes may require tailored protein dosing strategies.
Limits
As a narrative review, it presents expert perspective rather than new experimental data or a systematic meta-analysis. The abstract provides no specific study metrics, sample sizes, or definitive dose-response trial outcomes in master athletes.
Cited by
- supports Aging reduces sensitivity to leucine, requiring higher amounts of leucine, branched-chain amino acids, or essential amino acids to stimulate muscle protein synthesis.