Effective Nutrients to Fight Sarcopenia’s Muscle Loss?

October 1st, 2010

Preventing the Muscle Loss Related to Sarcopenia

By John Troup, PhD

man lifting weights baby boomer muscle loss 216x300 Effective Nutrients to Fight Sarcopenias Muscle Loss?

Maintaining and/or improving muscle function and preventing sarcopenia (muscle loss) as we age is clearly an important part of our individualized health care objectives for healthy aging. But not all proteins or protein sources and blends are created with the same effect. While there are a number of protein types and sources available, not all have the same level of effect or improvement. Table 1 (below) presents this comparative table with the first line of data comparisons showing which source nutrient or protein has the highest effect on building muscle. From a review of the scientific literature, its clear that the combination of high leucine/essential amino acids has the most significant effect on building and restoring muscle mass. Not only is the muscle building capacity the highest but the practical outcomes of improved muscle function and muscle strength are the most positive with this blend of high leucine/essential amino acids. Based on the proprietary science in developing this blend, it is now a patented formulation and exclusively available in BeneVia® nutritional beverages and called ViaLeuPro™. Recently, a new nutrient called HMB (hydroxymethylbutyrate) a metabolic by product of the amino acid leucine, has been purported to be effective in building muscle and stimulating muscle protein synthesis. A review of the scientific literature suggests, however, that this metabolite, HMB has little to no effect on protein synthesis alone and only when combined with the amino acid arginine is any stimulation of protein synthesis observed. Even this combination of HMB/arginine however has only moderate effect on muscle building potential – especially when compared to intact protein sources or to the high leucine/essential amino acid mix, called ViaLeuPro™. Table One: Comparative Effects Reported on the Effect of Muscle Energetics and Functional Outcomes of Selected Nutrient Energy Sources in Nutritional Beverages. Results represent studies with subjects 60yrs and older. ViaLeuPro™ is the most effective energy source that helps build muscle and improve muscle function for healthy aging.