Amino acid supplementation increases lean body mass, basal muscle protein synthesis, and insulin-like growth factor-I expression in older women.
BACKGROUND
Inadequate dietary protein intake has been implicated in sarcopenia.


OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to determine whether: 1) chronic essential amino acid (EAA) supplementation improves postabsorptive muscle protein fractional synthesis rate (FSR), lean body mass (LBM), and one-repetition maximum muscle strength, and androgen receptor and IGF-I muscle protein expression; and 2) the acute anabolic response to EAA ingestion is preserved after a 3-month supplementation period. Using a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled design, older women (68 +/- 2 yr) were assigned to receive either placebo (n = 7), or 15 g EAA/d [supplemented treatment group (SUP)] (n = 7) for 3 months. Metabolic outcomes were assessed in association with stable isotope studies conducted at 0 and 3 months.


METHODS
The study was performed at The University of Texas Medical Branch General Clinical Research Center.


RESULTS
Ingestion of 7.5 g EAA acutely stimulated FSR in both groups at 0 months (P < 0.05). Basal FSR at 3 months was increased in SUP only. The magnitude of the acute response to EAA was unaltered after 3 months in SUP. LBM increased in SUP only (P < 0.05). One-repetition maximum strength remained unchanged in both groups. Basal IGF-I protein expression increased in SUP after 3 months (P = 0.05), with no changes in androgen receptor or total and phosphorylated Akt, mammalian target of rapamycin, S6 kinase, and 4E-binding protein.


CONCLUSIONS
EAA improved LBM and basal muscle protein synthesis in older individuals. The acute anabolic response to EAA supplementation is maintained over time and can improve LBM, possibly offsetting the debilitating effects of sarcopenia.
Dillon
Edgar L
EL
Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas 77555-1060, USA.
Sheffield-Moore
Melinda
M
Paddon-Jones
Douglas
D
Gilkison
Charles
C
Sanford
Arthur P
AP
Casperson
Shanon L
SL
Jiang
Jie
J
Chinkes
David L
DL
Urban
Randall J
RJ
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D000601:Amino Acids, Essential / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007700:Kinetics; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000601:Amino Acids, Essential; D045930:Anabolic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D010649:Phenylalanine; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I