title: A moderate acute increase in physical activity enhances nutritive flow and the muscle protein anabolic response to mixed nutrient intake in older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nutrient stimulation of muscle protein anabolism is blunted with aging and may contribute to the development and progression of sarcopenia in older adults. This is likely due to insulin resistance of protein metabolism and/or endothelial dysfunction with a reduction in nutritive flow, both of which can be improved by aerobic exercise.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to determine whether increasing physical activity can enhance the muscle protein anabolic effect of essential amino acid (EAA) + sucrose intake in older subjects by improving nutritive flow and/or insulin signaling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a randomized crossover design, we measured in older subjects [n = 6, 70 ± 3 y of age, BMI (in kg/m2) of 25 ± 1] the acute effects of increasing physical activity with aerobic exercise, as compared with normal sedentary lifestyle, on the response of blood flow, microvascular perfusion, insulin signaling, and muscle protein kinetics to EAA+sucrose intake.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences between treatment groups were found in the basal state. The change from the basal state in blood flow, muscle perfusion, phenylalanine delivery, net balance, and muscle protein synthesis during the consumption of EAA+sucrose was significantly higher after the exercise than after the control treatment (P < 0.05). Insulin signaling increased during EAA+sucrose ingestion in both groups (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that a prior bout of aerobic exercise increases the anabolic effect of nutrient intake in older adults. This effect appears to be mediated by an exercise-induced improvement in nutrient-stimulated vasodilation and nutrient delivery to muscle rather than to improved insulin signaling. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00690534.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition & Metabolism, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Kyle L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Timmerman
authors.forename: Shaheen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhanani
authors.forename: Erin L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Glynn
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Fry
authors.forename: Micah J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Drummond
authors.forename: Kristofer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: Blake B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Volpi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000601:Amino Acids, Essential / Q000378:metabolism*; D001775:Blood Circulation; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000378:metabolism; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000601:Amino Acids, Essential; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D007328:Insulin; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D010649:Phenylalanine; D013395:Sucrose