Exploring the Impact of Obesity on Skeletal Muscle Function in Older Age
Sarcopenia is of important clinical relevance for loss of independence in older adults. The prevalence of obesity in combination with sarcopenia (“sarcopenic-obesity”) is increasing at a rapid rate. However, whilst the development of sarcopenia is understood to be multi-factorial and harmful to heal...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2020.569904/full |
| _version_ | 1818875565155811328 |
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| author | Paul T. Morgan Benoit Smeuninx Benoit Smeuninx Leigh Breen |
| author_facet | Paul T. Morgan Benoit Smeuninx Benoit Smeuninx Leigh Breen |
| author_sort | Paul T. Morgan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sarcopenia is of important clinical relevance for loss of independence in older adults. The prevalence of obesity in combination with sarcopenia (“sarcopenic-obesity”) is increasing at a rapid rate. However, whilst the development of sarcopenia is understood to be multi-factorial and harmful to health, the role of obesity from a protective and damaging perspective on skeletal muscle in aging, is poorly understood. Specifically, the presence of obesity in older age may be accompanied by a greater volume of skeletal muscle mass in weight-bearing muscles compared with lean older individuals, despite impaired physical function and resistance to anabolic stimuli. Collectively, these findings support a potential paradox in which obesity may protect skeletal muscle mass in older age. One explanation for these paradoxical findings may be that the anabolic response to weight-bearing activity could be greater in obese vs. lean older individuals due to a larger mechanical stimulus, compensating for the heightened muscle anabolic resistance. However, it is likely that there is a complex interplay between muscle, adipose, and external influences in the aging process that are ultimately harmful to health in the long-term. This narrative briefly explores some of the potential mechanisms regulating changes in skeletal muscle mass and function in aging combined with obesity and the interplay with sarcopenia, with a particular focus on muscle morphology and the regulation of muscle proteostasis. In addition, whilst highly complex, we attempt to provide an updated summary for the role of obesity from a protective and damaging perspective on muscle mass and function in older age. We conclude with a brief discussion on treatment of sarcopenia and obesity and a summary of future directions for this research field. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T13:28:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-784029477de94c4288509c6fee0b8b6b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-861X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T13:28:31Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-784029477de94c4288509c6fee0b8b6b2022-12-21T20:19:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2020-12-01710.3389/fnut.2020.569904569904Exploring the Impact of Obesity on Skeletal Muscle Function in Older AgePaul T. Morgan0Benoit Smeuninx1Benoit Smeuninx2Leigh Breen3School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United KingdomSchool of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United KingdomCellular & Molecular Metabolism Laboratory, Monash Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, AustraliaSchool of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United KingdomSarcopenia is of important clinical relevance for loss of independence in older adults. The prevalence of obesity in combination with sarcopenia (“sarcopenic-obesity”) is increasing at a rapid rate. However, whilst the development of sarcopenia is understood to be multi-factorial and harmful to health, the role of obesity from a protective and damaging perspective on skeletal muscle in aging, is poorly understood. Specifically, the presence of obesity in older age may be accompanied by a greater volume of skeletal muscle mass in weight-bearing muscles compared with lean older individuals, despite impaired physical function and resistance to anabolic stimuli. Collectively, these findings support a potential paradox in which obesity may protect skeletal muscle mass in older age. One explanation for these paradoxical findings may be that the anabolic response to weight-bearing activity could be greater in obese vs. lean older individuals due to a larger mechanical stimulus, compensating for the heightened muscle anabolic resistance. However, it is likely that there is a complex interplay between muscle, adipose, and external influences in the aging process that are ultimately harmful to health in the long-term. This narrative briefly explores some of the potential mechanisms regulating changes in skeletal muscle mass and function in aging combined with obesity and the interplay with sarcopenia, with a particular focus on muscle morphology and the regulation of muscle proteostasis. In addition, whilst highly complex, we attempt to provide an updated summary for the role of obesity from a protective and damaging perspective on muscle mass and function in older age. We conclude with a brief discussion on treatment of sarcopenia and obesity and a summary of future directions for this research field.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2020.569904/fullsarcopenic-obesitymuscle functionmetabolic syndromesarcopeniaobesity paradoxanabolic resistance |
| spellingShingle | Paul T. Morgan Benoit Smeuninx Benoit Smeuninx Leigh Breen Exploring the Impact of Obesity on Skeletal Muscle Function in Older Age Frontiers in Nutrition sarcopenic-obesity muscle function metabolic syndrome sarcopenia obesity paradox anabolic resistance |
| title | Exploring the Impact of Obesity on Skeletal Muscle Function in Older Age |
| title_full | Exploring the Impact of Obesity on Skeletal Muscle Function in Older Age |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the Impact of Obesity on Skeletal Muscle Function in Older Age |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the Impact of Obesity on Skeletal Muscle Function in Older Age |
| title_short | Exploring the Impact of Obesity on Skeletal Muscle Function in Older Age |
| title_sort | exploring the impact of obesity on skeletal muscle function in older age |
| topic | sarcopenic-obesity muscle function metabolic syndrome sarcopenia obesity paradox anabolic resistance |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2020.569904/full |
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