title: Elderly men and women benefit equally from prolonged resistance-type exercise training.
abstract: This study compares the effects of 6 months resistance-type exercise training (three times per week) between healthy elderly women (n = 24; 71±1 years) and men (n = 29; 70±1 years). Muscle mass (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry-computed tomography), strength (one-repetition maximum), functional capacity (sit-to-stand time), muscle fiber characteristics (muscle biopsies), and metabolic profile (blood samples) were assessed. Leg lean mass (3% ± 1%) and quadriceps cross-sectional area (9% ± 1%) increased similarly in both groups. One-repetition maximum leg extension strength increased by 42% ± 3% (women) and 43% ± 3% (men). Following training, type II muscle fiber size had increased, and a type II muscle fiber specific increase in myonuclear and satellite cell content was observed with no differences between genders. Sit-to-stand time decreased similarly in both groups. Glycemic control and blood lipid profiles improved to a similar extent in both women and men. A generic resistance-type exercise training program can be applied for both women and men to effectively counteract the loss of muscle mass and strength with aging.
authors.affiliation: Top Institute Food and Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leenders
authors.forename: Lex B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Verdijk
authors.forename: Letty
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: van der Hoeven
authors.forename: Janneau
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Kranenburg
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nilwik
authors.forename: Luc J C
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: van Loon
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D015415:Biomarkers; D001823:Body Composition; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D055070:Resistance Training; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002784:Cholesterol; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin