SHR

Generally speaking, with age comes a natural loss of muscle mass and function that is owed in no small part to a reduction in physical activity. This may be because protein metabolism is greatly influenced by the contractile activity of skeletal muscle, and it has been shown that muscular disuse results in a reduction in muscle protein synthesis (MPS) both after a meal and when in the fasting state. Even modest reductions in muscular loading through step‐reduction (SR; <1500 steps/day) for 2-weeks has been shown to reduce MPS in older adults, further supporting the notion that sedentariness plays a large role in the anabolic resistance of aging. Somewhat obviously, resistance training (RT) is the foundation of any intervention that seeks to counteract muscle and strength loss, and there is no shortage of evidence showing older individuals to benefit. However, many interventions use high-load programs that may not always be feasible for...

Iron and metabolic syndrome; a shield for women and sword for men In an analysis of 3,271 Swiss men and women, Kilani et al found a significant relationship between serum transferrin levels and increased risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in men only, whereas serum iron was found to be significantly protective against MetS in women. Ferritin showed no associations with either sex. Although causality cannot be determined, two mechanisms have been proposed. The first is that MetS leads to increased inflammatory status that leads to changes in iron homeostasis. The second is that elevated transferrin leads to MetS through a complex web of mechanisms beginning with excessive formation of reactive oxygen species and ending with insulin resistance and related comorbidities. It’s the little things MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that have the ability to control multiple genes and govern remote bodily processes through intertwined pathways. Researchers from the University of...

If I were to recommend a single supplement for another to take, it would be creatine monohydrate. Its benefits spread far beyond increases in muscle mass and athletic performance towards neurological protection and musculoskeletal health. More recently, creatine has been suggested as a maternal supplement to act as a “multi-organ protectant” for the fetus and neonate that gives it a promise not provided by the current therapies. Most importantly, creatine has an overwhelming base of evidence demonstrating it to be safe. Now, a new study extends creatine’s benefits onto the bone health of postmenopausal women. In this double-blind, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial, 33 otherwise healthy postmenopausal women engaged in a 12-month supervised resistance training program with or without creatine supplementation of 0.1 g/kg/day consumed in a split dose before and after training sessions or with two separate meals on non-training days. Exercise training involved fully supervised resistance training three times per week. Exercises...