title: Slight chronic elevation of C-reactive protein is associated with lower aerobic fitness but does not impair meal-induced stimulation of muscle protein metabolism in healthy old men.
abstract: Ageing impairs the muscle anabolic effect of food intake, which may explain muscle loss and an increased risk of sarcopenia. Ageing is also associated with low grade inflammation (LGI), which has been negatively correlated with muscle mass and strength. In rodents, the muscle anabolic resistance observed during ageing and sarcopenia has been ascribed to the development of the LGI. We aimed to investigate this relationship in humans. We studied protein metabolism and physical fitness in healthy elderly volunteers with slight chronic C-reactive protein. Two groups of healthy elderly volunteers were selected on the presence (or not) of a chronic, slight, elevation of CRP (Control: <1; CRP+: >2 mg l(-1) and <10 mg l(-1) , for 2 months). Body composition, short performance battery test, aerobic fitness and muscle strength were assessed. Whole body and muscle protein metabolism and the splanchnic extraction of amino acids were assessed using [(13) C]leucine and [(2) H]leucine infusion. The anabolic effect of food intake was measured by studying the volunteers both at the post-absorptive and post-prandial states. Slight chronic CRP elevation resulted in neither an alteration of whole body, nor skeletal muscle protein metabolism at both the post-absorptive and the post-prandial states. However, CRP+ presented a reduction of physical fitness, increased abdominal fat mass and post-prandial insulin resistance. Plasma cytokines (interleukin-1, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor α) and markers of endothelial inflammation (intercellular adhesion molecule, vascular cell adhesion molecule, selectins) were similar between groups. An isolated elevated CRP in healthy older population does not indicate an impaired skeletal muscle anabolism after food intake, nor an increased risk of skeletal muscle wasting. We propose that a broader picture of LGI (notably with elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines) is required to impact muscle metabolism and mass. However, an isolated chronic CRP elevation could predict a decrease in aerobic fitness and insulin resistance installation in elderly individuals.
authors.affiliation: Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, Unité de Nutrition Humaine, BP 10448, Clermont-Ferrand, France; INRA, UMR 1019, UNH, CRNH Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buffière
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mariotti
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Savary-Auzeloux
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Migné
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meunier
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hercberg
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rémond
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duclos
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dardevet
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D019518:Postprandial Period
chemical_list: D009124:Muscle Proteins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein