Nutritional supplementations and administration considerations for sarcopenia in older adults

3.1Protein and amino acids

Skeletal muscles serve as the largest reservoir for total body protein storage, comprising more than 50% of the total body protein content [16]. Skeletal muscle proteins are under a continuous cycle of synthesis and break down, resulting in constant renewal of muscle protein content. In younger adults there is a balance between muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and muscle protein degradation (MPD), which leads to preservation of muscle mass and inhibition of lean tissue loss. However, aging is associated with diminished muscle anabolic response to dietary proteins, which is defined as anabolic resistance [29]. In addition, age-related adverse factors cause derangement in the degradation-synthesis equilibrium; thus contributing to sarcopenia [30]. Therefore, inadequate intake of protein and other nutrients as a result of decreased appetite, chewing or swallowing difficulties, decreased gastric emptying, physical and mental impairments, medications-nutrient interactions, presence of multiple diseases, and altered hormonal responses can contribute to impaired synthesis of proteins in skeletal muscles [19]. However, recent research indicates that ingestion of 35 g of whey protein shows an increased rate of de novo muscle protein synthesis when compared to ingestion of 10–20 g of whey protein. Therefore, it appears that anabolic resistance can be partially overcome by increasing protein intake in older adults to higher than 10–35% of the acceptable macronutrient distribution range (AMDR) [29].

Several studies have been conducted to date to examine the impact of supplementation of proteins and/or different amino acid mixtures on muscle mass and function (Table 1). Research shows that ingestion of a high-protein containing diet will trigger skeletal MPS, which will be maintained for up to 5 hours following ingestion [31]. There is an inverse relationship between protein intake and appendicular lean mass loss, i.e. for an older adult being in the highest quintile of protein intake (18.2% total energy, 1.1 g/ kg/day) is associated with 39% less appendicular muscle mass loss (P <  0.05) [32]. Researchers have also shown that different sources of protein have different effects on MPS. Wherein ingestion of high quality proteins such as whey and casein have been shown to be more effective in mitigating muscle mass loss in sarcopenia than soy proteins [33, 34]. In addition, some studies show that protein intake, when combined with physical activity such as resistance exercise, is capable of reducing muscle mass loss in the elderly more efficiently than merely protein ingestion [35]. Overall, high quality proteins and amino acids have been shown to be effective in attenuating age-related muscle mass loss. Nevertheless dosages, combination, timing and duration of protein or amino acid supplements, and their association with exercise, are all factors requiring further studies in order to establish optimal therapeutic strategies to attenuate age-related muscle loss and decrease the number of older adults suffering from sarcopenia.

Amino acids (AA) are organic compounds composed of two functional groups: amine (-NH₂) and carboxylic acid (-COOH) [36]. They are building blocks of proteins, as well as energy substrates and signalling molecules in protein metabolism [37]. Research shows that supplementation with 8–15 g/day of essential amino acids (EAA) results in improved lean body mass (LBM) and muscle strength [16, 20]. Among the various EAA, the branched-chain AA (BCAA), especially leucine, have been shown to have regulatory roles in enhancing MPS and reducing MPD [38, 39]. It has been said that more than 20% of the total protein content of the diet is comprised of BCAA [40]. Since the liver does not possess any aminotransferase enzyme for metabolizing BCAA, these AA reach the blood and then skeletal muscles almost with the same concentrations that they appeared in the diet [41]. Thus, supplementation with BCAA, especially leucine, can potentially be of great importance to skeletal MPS [42, 43]. Leucine is capable of inducing protein synthesis via the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex-1 signalling pathway, which plays a central role in cell growth, cell-survival and protein synthesis. The mTOR pathway is a conserved serine/threonine kinase involved in many signal transduction pathways within the cell, regulating cell growth and homeostasis [44]. The mTOR system is categorized as two protein complexes: mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2). Maintaining and controlling protein synthesis are the primary roles of mTORC1, whereas the role of mTORC2 is less clearly perceived [45]. While activation of mTORC1 will further phosphorylates/activates p70 ribosomal S6 protein kinase (p70S6K) and protein synthesis, its inhibition activates autophagy machinery to eliminate damaged components and save energy for stressful conditions [46]. Thus, due to the central role of mTOR in several signaling pathways, it is implicated in the pathogenesis of diseases in which growth and homeostasis are compromised, e.g. cancer [47], aging [48], and sarcopenia [49]. The activation of p70S6K and mTORC1 is also essential for skeletal muscle hypertrophy as it is required for the initiation of a series of mRNA translation, which encodes protein necessary for protein synthesis (Fig. 2). Moreover, mTOR is implicated in protein synthesis and degradation in myopathies [50, 51]. Increased activation of mTOR and the subsequent hyperphosphorylation of p70S6K have been observed in aged mice [52], suggesting a role for mTOR in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia and other age-related muscle abnormalities.

Research shows that both acute and chronic supplementation with EAA in the amount of 10 g and in combination with 3.5 g leucine are capable of enhancing MPS [42, 53]. Since the leucine content of dietary proteins is a determinant of post-prandial MPS, investigating the effect of various protein sources on MPS in regard to their leucine content is of great interest in research. Luiking et al. [34] investigated whether there was a difference in the effects of a supplement high in whey protein and leucine or a dairy product-containing supplement on skeletal MPS in healthy older adults. The results of this study revealed that the experimental group, who received 20 g whey protein and 3 g leucine-enriched product had a higher protein fractional synthesis rate (FSR) compared with the control group who ingested 6 g milk protein with the same calorie content [34]. Similarly, the effects of soy and whey protein, combined with resistance exercise, on the levels of p70S6K phosphorylation were compared in thirteen healthy older men [33]. Although at 2 hours post exercise the levels of phosphorylated p70S6K increased in both whey and soy supplemented groups compared with baseline (P <  0.001), the level of phosphorylated p70S6K remained elevated for 4 hours post exercise (P <  0.001) only in the 30 g whey protein supplemented group. These results showed that the effect of whey protein on protein synthesis signalling pathways in skeletal muscle was more prolonged than soy protein, possibly due to higher BCAA content of whey protein and thus higher stimulation of mTOR signaling pathway. However, more research is needed to better understand why different proteins have different effects on mTOR pathway stimulation and the subsequent MPS.

Aleman-Mateo et al. [54] conducted a study with 40 subjects, including men and women over 60 years of age with sarcopenia. They examined the impact of a diet rich in protein from ricotta cheese (15.7 g protein /day, including EAA at 8.6 g/day) on total appendicular skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength. Unfortunately, the results of the study did not reach statistical significance. In fact, diet rich in ricotta cheese did not have any impact on body composition and strength in elderly with sarcopenia. The authors suggested that perhaps higher amount of dietary protein is needed to elucidate an increase in muscle mass in older adults, i.e. 2 g/kg/day, while this study only provided  0.5 g/kg/day. Another important factor to consider is that this study used total lean body mass increase as an indicator of effectiveness of protein supplementation. Additional analysis on hand grip strength provided a clear tendency toward significance in the ricotta supplemented group (P = 0.06), indicating increased muscle strength. As a final remark, the authors found that some participants experienced difficulty consuming the entire portion of 210 g of ricotta cheese due to an early satiety. This finding is consistent with previous findings on early satiety in the elderly, especially following a high protein meal [28]. The results of these studies suggest that older adults’ digestive capabilities should be taken into account prior to prescribing protein supplementation. Moreover, due to substantial differences between younger adults and older adults’ digestive systems, additional research is required in order to select the most efficient way for AA delivery to skeletal tissue in order to achieve the highest impact on MPS. For instance, Milan et al. [55] compared postprandial plasma AA concentrations between a group of older adults (n = 15, 60–75 y) and younger adults (n = 15, 20–25 y) following a high protein mixed meal (49.8 g protein). The results of the study showed that older adult digest and absorb protein within a mixed meal slower that younger adults. The authors suggested that delay in AA absorption may delay or suppress protein synthesis in senescent muscle [55]. Therefore, the type of protein and the context of the meal have to be modified to fit the needs of declining digestive functions of older adults. Hence, providing proteins and EAA, especially leucine, in forms of pharmacological supplements may appear as the most feasible way to achieve optimum protein/AA intake in older adults.

The impact of leucine on protein synthesis has been shown in a large body of literature (e.g. Table 1); however, the effective dose by which leucine exerts its role on protein synthesis in the elderly is still not clearly understood. Animal studies indicate that increasing the BCAA-rich whey protein content of the diet from 12% to 18% (12% whey = 13.8 g leucine/kg diet; 18% whey = 21.1 g leucine/kg diet) results in attenuating the LBM loss in aged rats. In regards to human studies, most recent research show that administration of ≥30–40 g of whey protein to older adults results in direct stimulation of protein synthesis through mTOR signaling pathway [49]. Although these studies (Table 1) provide valuable sources of information on the impacts and effective dose of whey and leucine supplementation in attenuating muscle mass and function losses in the elderly, there is still no agreement in the literature on the optimum level of whey and leucine intakes for treatment of sarcopenia.

In summary, supplementations with protein and AA, especially leucine, are promising strategies targeted at increasing MPS and attenuating age-related sarcopenia. However the exact effective and safe dosage is still unclear, but current suggestions include: ≥30 g whey protein/day, BCAA-rich protein at 2 g/kg/day, or to include whey protein as 18% of total daily caloric intake (Table 1). In addition to currently obscure protein/AA dosages, the exact route of delivery is questionable given the physiological impairments in the digestive system that occur with aging, which can significantly impact an individual’s nutritional status. Therefore, supplementation with high quality protein in its elemental form of AA (especially BCAA) may be a more effective way for optimum MPS stimulation as it by-passes digestive step that appears to be problematic for older adults. Furthermore, on a cautionary note, although higher protein consumption is recommended to attenuate muscle mass loss in sarcopenia, potential adverse effects associated with higher than 0.8 mg/kg daily protein intake should not be overlooked. For instance, bone disorders and imbalance in calcium homeostasis, renal dysfunction, predisposition to cancer and coronary artery disease are some of the adverse effects mentioned in the literature as consequences of higher than RDA protein consumption [56]. Future studies looking more in depth in the proper dose and timing of administration of protein and AA are required to establish a practical guideline for prevention and management of sarcopenia in the elderly.

3.2Vitamin D and calcium

Increase rates of longevity and adiposity in the general population result in an increased number of musculoskeletal system disorders such as sarcopenia and osteoporosis; both contributing to frailty and increased risk of fractures due to falls in older adults. It is important to mention both muscle and bone diseases as they appear to be linked in both direct function and tissue cross-talk (Fig. 3). Skeletal muscles and bone mass are constantly involved in each other’s regulatory pathways, resulting in mutual co-dependency [57, 58]. One of these mutual regulators appears to be vitamin D. Research findings showed that vitamin D-responsive hormones that are produced by bone tissue are activated in the presence of vitamin D and in return have positive effects on MPS. Similar association is seen with vitamin D-responsive factors produced by muscle cells, resulting in positive effect on bone tissue [59]. Therefore, both muscle and bone strengths have to be considered in order to provide optimum treatment and preventative measures for older adults with sarcopenia.

Following the discovery of vitamin D receptors in human muscle cells, it has been identified that vitamin D may induce MPS through direct initiation of transcription and indirect muscle-bone cross talk mechanism [59]. In addition to anabolic effects on muscles, vitamin D may also have a role in moderating inflammation in skeletal muscles. Choi et al. [60] found that vitamin D supplementation in exercised rats decreased inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) genes expressions, and increased vitamin D receptor protein expression in skeletal muscles [60]. A number of studies have concluded that supplementation with vitamin D might improve muscles function and bone strength, thus preventing sarcopenia, frailty, and decreased the risk of falls in the elderly (Table 2). For instance, Mastaglia et al. [61] demonstrated that the strength and function of lower extremities were better preserved with serum hydroxyl-vitamin D level ≥20 ng/ml. Indeed, lower vitamin D level in the blood was found to be associated with frailty in older adults [62]. A meta-analysis by Bischoff-Ferrari et al. [63] indicated that vitamin D supplementation at a dose of 700–1000 mg/day in older adults was associated with 19% reduced risk of falling. In addition, the results from the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV) in 2009 demonstrated that the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D had positive correlations with total and appendicular lean mass (R = 0.142 and R = 0.157, respectively) and negative correlations with total fat mass and appendicular fat mass (R = –0.188 and R = –0.197, respectively) (P <  0.001 for all). In fact, sarcopenia in older Koreans was inversely associated with serum vitamin D concentrations [64]. However, further gender-specific analysis of the KNHANES IV data revealed that blood vitamin D levels tended to have a negative association with sarcopenia only in women 50 years of age or older [65]. In contrast, Dupuy et al. [66] conducted a cross-sectional study to determine whether muscle mass was influenced by vitamin D intakes in 1989 community-dwelling older French women (∼80 y). Low intake of vitamin D was estimated based on self-reported data and defined at <70μg/week based on recommended dietary intake (RDI) of vitamin D. Although in this study low muscle mass revealed a significant, positive correlation with obesity, malnutrition and decreased handgrip strength, no association was observed between muscle mass and dietary vitamin D intake [66].

In addition to vitamin D status and intake, the effect of calcium intake on body composition in older adults has been reported in the literature. Data from the KNHANES IV study indicated that the daily calcium intake had a positive (rho = 0.281) (all P <  0.001) and negative correlation (rho = –0.140, P <  0.001) with skeletal muscle mass and total body fat mass, respectively. Sarcopenic older adults had a lower daily consumption of calcium (≤278 mg per day) in comparison with participants without sarcopenia [67]. Furthermore, calcium status is influenced by blood vitamin D levels, since 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, the active form of vitamin D in the body, binds to vitamin D receptors in the gut and stimulates production of proteins involved in the transluminal transport of calcium in the intestine [68].

In summary, although, the mechanism of muscle-bone cross-talk is poorly understood, its existence has been prior suspected. Evidences indicate that sarcopenia might be associated with vitamin D deficiency, however this is all based primarily on observational studies as reviewed above and summarized in Table 2. Unfortunately, to date there has been no clear randomized clinical trials showing the benefits of vitamin D for sarcopenia. Nevertheless, supplementation might be effective for protection against loss of musculoskeletal unit and the subsequent complications, such as falls, which lead to immobility and further decrease in lean muscles mass (i.e. muscle atrophy due to immobility). Evidence suggests that 700–800 international units (IU) of vitamin D in combination with calcium supplement reduces the risk of non-vertebral and hip fractures by approximately 13–26% [69–71]. Since natural vitamin D requires sun exposure for activation, which may not be feasible in many situations, thus pharmacological supplementation with its active form may be the most efficient way to achieve optimum vitamin D status for most elders.

3.3Antioxidants

Oxidative stress is a condition resulting from an imbalance between increased free radical production and decreased cell protection mechanism; known as antioxidative capacity. Since free radicals are unstable and have high chemical reactivity, they can wreak havoc on a wide spectrum of biomolecules including DNA, lipids and proteins. Amongst the various free radicals, reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are derived from oxygen, are of utmost importance in biological systems because of their major production site in the cells, i.e. mitochondria [72]. As cellular respiration organelles, mitochondria consume approximately 90% of the oxygen inside the cells and overproduction of ROS can have destructive effects on mitochondria and cells resulting in mitochondrial mediated apoptosis or cell death [73]. Indeed, the impact of free radicals on aging process was described as early as 1950’s by Denham Harman [74] where he enunciated that intracellularly produced free radicals are capable of damaging cell components such as DNA and RNA, leading to aging and aging-associated degenerative alterations [74]. For more information on the generation of ROS and counteraction of cells to oxidative stress during aging the readers are referred to comprehensive literature review such as by Finkel et al. [75].

Among various proposed mechanisms in sarcopenia, impairment in mitochondria and increased oxidative stress are strongly supported by the literature [76–79]. Aging results in reduced content and bioenergetics of mitochondria within skeletal muscle and consequently, oxidative phosphorylation capacity will be diminished in myocytes [76, 78]. Decreased functionality of mitochondria, not only leads to less adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, but also contributes to greater production and release of ROS from mitochondria [76]. ROS are a major inducer of programmed cell death, apoptosis, and autophagy, resulting in myocyte loss and/or atrophy [76]. Sullivan-Gunn et al. [80] assigned 58 mice into four age categories; 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of age and fed them with standard chow and water under controlled conditions. At 14 months of age, representing middle age, the survival rate of these mice started to drop, whereby 60% of 18-month old animals survived, and half of them died in the 24 months of age group. In addition, skeletal muscle mass loss or sarcopenia was observed at 18 months of age. These mice also showed an increase in ROS levels and a decrease in antioxidant enzymes levels in skeletal muscle, indicating a possible role of oxidative damage in sarcopenia [80]. Cross sectional studies in human subjects also demonstrated that older adults with sarcopenia consume below the RDA for antioxidant nutrients compared to those without sarcopenia [81]. Hence, strategies aiming at reduction of ROS production or detoxifying them may contribute to reversing the devastating consequences of these compounds.

Some researches in the field of sarcopenia have been focused on oxidative stress and treatment strategies using antioxidants. Marzani et al. [82] conducted a study to assess the impact of an antioxidant mixture consisting of rutin, vitamin E, vitamin A, zinc and selenium on anabolic response of aged muscle to stimulatory effect of leucine supplementation. In this study adult (8 months, n = 32) and old (20 months, n = 33) male rats were each assigned to one of two experimental protocols to receive either a control diet supplemented (Aox+) or non-supplemented (Aox-) with the antioxidant mixture. After 7 weeks, fast-twitch epitrochlearis muscles were dissected and further incubated in incremental concentrations of leuicne. In Aox- groups, addition of leucine increased protein synthesis in adult rats and to a lesser extent in old rats. No significant alteration was observed in adult rats supplemented with the antioxidants; however, MPS response to leucine was enhanced as a result of antioxidant supplementation in old rats. In this situation, improvement in protein synthesis in old rats was not mediated through activation of p70S6K, but thought to be intervened by a reduction in inflammatory markers, such as plasma α ₂ macroglobulin, which showed a decrease in old rats after antioxidant supplementation [82]. Although, the effect of antioxidants on MPS (activation of elements of protein synthesis pathway) and inflammatory biomarkers were assessed in this study, the exact mechanism by which antioxidants induce their impacts on the muscle cells was not investigated. In addition, alteration in muscle mass and/or function in aging due to antioxidant supplementation are also areas that require further examination.

Animal and human bodies possess endogenous antioxidant compounds and enzymes, e.g. glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase, to defend the body against oxidative attack [83]. In addition, antioxidative capacity of various exogenous dietary sources such as vitamin C [84], vitamin E [85], carotenoids [86] and polyphenols [87] have long been reviewed in the literature showing that they can compensate the body’s antioxidant requirements [88, 89]. The ability of antioxidants to scavenge ROS prevents further damage to the cell structures notably mitochondria [90]. Ryan et al. [21] supplemented 28 aged rats either with or without vitamin C and E and demonstrated that these vitamins lowered the indices of aging-associated oxidative damage. Similarly, Bobeuf and colleagues [91] demonstrated that supplementation of older rats with vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid, 2% by weight) and E (dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, 30000 mg/kg) combined with resistance exercise for 4.5 weeks increased appendicular fat free mass after 6 months of study period; however these researchers could not detect any significant change in oxidative damage parameters.

Carotenoids; organic pigments abundantly found in plants and vegetables, are supposed to have an inverse association with muscle dysfunction and disability in older adults [92]. Follow-up study of 628 elderly men and women aged 65 and older for 6 years revealed that lower plasma concentrations of carotenoids were accompanied by greater risk of poor hip, knee and grip muscle strength [92]. Similar results regarding the relationship between plasma carotenoid levels and hip, knee and grip strengths were also attained from elderly women who participated in a cross-sectional study; in fact, higher carotenoids levels were correlated with better strength measures [93]. These observational studies suggest that carotenoids may have protective effect against aging-associated muscle function loss. However, further clinical controlled studies are required to demonstrate the beneficial roles of carotenoids in attenuating sarcopenia in older adults.

In addition to carotenoids, vitamins C and E, the antioxidant effect of other dietary nutrients such as resveratrol, has been investigated in the literature. Resveratrol is a member of the polyphenolic compounds, which are known for their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Skin of red grapes is the major natural source of resveratrol, but it can also be found in peanuts and berries [94]. Resveratrol is present in plants and fruits in a small amount, therefore in order to reach the pharmacological doses effective for health related conditions, resveratrol is extracted from Polygonum cuspidatum (knotweed) as a nutritional supplement [95]. Investigators claimed that polyphenols and resveratrol have beneficial preventive and therapeutic effects on a number of health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and aging associated disorders [94]. In an in vitro study with C2C12 myoblast cells, resveratrol hindered increased production of ROS induced by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), a cytokine promoting fibrosis in muscles [96]. Other in vitro studies also demonstrated that resveratrol is capable of reversing muscle mass loss induced by inflammation, mainly the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α, through regulation of Akt/mTOR/FoxO1 signaling pathway, which enhances MPS required for muscle structure and function. Akt (protein kinase B) is a kinase capable of controlling both MPS, via phosphorylating and activating of mTOR, and MPD, by inactivating of transcription factor Forkhead Box O1 [97]. In addition, intra-gastric administration of resveratrol with a dose of 100 mg/kg/day to 8 month-old rats for 12 weeks decreased ROS level in subsarcolemmal and intermyofibrillar mitochondria and increased antioxidative capacity as measured by total superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase and catalase enzymes activity levels in tibialis anterior muscle [98]. Nevertheless, there are some discrepancies in the literature regarding antioxidative effect of resveratrol. When Barger et al. [99] supplemented 14 month-old male mice with 4.9 mg/kg/day for approximately 16 months, markers of oxidative damage to DNA and RNA [8-hydroxy-29-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and 8-hydroxyguanosine (8-OHG)] and the marker of lipid peroxidation (F2-isoprostanes) in soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles did not change significantly as a consequence of resveratrol supplementation [99]. Although the duration of this study was long enough to give rise to any beneficial effects of resveratrol, the provided dosage might not be sufficient to initiate the antioxidative impacts of resveratrol. Ingestion of higher doses, 12.5 mg/kg/day, of resveratrol for 21 days in older rats (34 month-old), who received hind limb suspension for 14 days during the course of the study, was shown to affect oxidative stress markers by increasing catalase and manganese SOD (MnSOD) activities and decreasing lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide contents in gastrocnemius muscle [100]. Although Jackson et al. [100] examined the gastrocnemius muscle as a whole, without having concern about different fiber types, a later study by the same research group [101] demonstrated that slow-twitch, gycolytic gastrocnemius muscle fibers are more responsive to resveratrol than fast-twitch, oxidative fibers in gastrocnemius muscle. Supplementing old (27 month-old) male rats with 50 mg/kg/day resveratrol for 6 weeks enhanced sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a histone residue deacetylase which is supposed to be associated with increased longevity and aging suppression [102], in slow-twitch gastrocnemius muscle fibers. However, the resveratrol supplementation regimen did not have any impact on oxidative stress markers and muscle mass [101]. Nonetheless, the increase in SIRT1 activity was also shown in a study conducted by Zheng et al. [98] that has been discussed earlier in this section.

To assess the effect of resveratrol in aging-associated muscle mass loss, Bennett et al. [106] applied hind limb suspension in combination with 125 mg/kg/day resveratrol supplementation for 14 days in 32 month-old male aged rats. Although resveratrol was not effective in preventing the plantaris muscle mass loss during loading period, it improved type II, fast-twitch muscle fiber size and muscle mass during the recovery period. Wang et al. [103] used an interleukin-10 (IL-10), an anti-inflammatory cytokine, knockout mouse model to investigate the effect of the grape seed extract (consisting of >95% flavonols), which is a by-product of wineries and grape juice producing industries. This mouse model exhibit chronic inflammation, accelerated muscle mass loss and frailty. Supplementing these animals with resveratrol for 12 weeks ameliorated tibialis anterior muscle mass loss, reduced protein degradation and rectified the inhibition of anabolic signaling pathway [103]. Although resveratrol revealed a protective effect against oxidative damage by reducing autophagy and apoptosis, some researchers claim that it was not able to attenuate muscle mass loss in sarcopenia [107]. In fact 10-month resveratrol supplementation of middle-aged mice was effective in preserving the fast-twitch muscle fiber function and age related oxidative stress, however it could not prevent muscle mass loss in these animals [107]. Although the result of this study in regard to the effect of resveratrol on muscle mass was in agreement with Joseph et al. [101], different fiber types were responsive to the beneficial effects of resveratrol supplementation in these studies. Therefore, it is not clear whether the effect of resveratrol is fiber-specific and if so, which fiber types are more responsive to this treatment. More research is required to elucidate the mechanism and role of resveratrol in attenuating muscle mass and function loss in elderly.

Overall, antioxidants provide a promising venue for combating muscle mass loss in sarcopenia, since increased oxidative stress is an inseparable part of this disorder and many other aging-associated conditions. Antioxidants are found in plenty of foods, primarily in vegetables and fruits. It is well known that the bioavailability of antioxidants from vegetable and fruit sources is optimum to maintain defenses against oxidative stress in healthy young people. As stated earlier in this review, a number of digestive misalignments prevent older adults from optimal nutrient utilization. However, in the case of antioxidants, it appears that older adults benefit from dietary vegetable and fruit consumptions as much as do younger adults. For instance, Kim, et al. [4] performed a cross-sectional examination of the KNHANES IV study, comprised of 823 men and 1,089 community-dwelling women aged≥65 years, to assess the relationships between vegetables and fruits consumptions and the effects on sarcopenia. The results of the study showed that after adjustment for all covariates, higher frequency of vegetables, fruits and combined fruits and vegetables consumption was accompanied by lower risk of sarcopenia among older men. For women, the risk of sarcopenia decreased as the number of servings of fruit per day increased.

Although, without a doubt, dietary antioxidant intake is superior to synthetic antioxidants, some older adults might be forced to resort to synthetic supplementation. A number of studies indicated that there is a difference in bioavailability between different synthetic antioxidants. For instance, pharmacokinetic studies indicate that carotenoids are less bioavailable in the form of a supplement, while synthetic and food-derived vitamin C is relatively comparable [108, 109]. Therefore, unless indicated otherwise, it appears prudent to use dietary therapy rich in vegetables and fruits in efforts to combat sarcopenia-induced oxidative stress. However, given the anorexia of aging, more research is needed to identify if some older adults might be experiencing significant difficulty consuming sufficient amounts of vegetables and fruits to obtain their beneficial health effects. Also, it will be prudent to identify if preparatory techniques such as mincing/puree could help to increase vegetables and fruit consumption in the elderly. Furthermore, more research is required to determine if supplementation with antioxidants could be beneficial adjuvant therapy to AA and proteins for enhancing or maintaining muscle mass and function in aging populations.

3.4Omega-3 fatty acids

The etiology of sarcopenia is still not clearly understood, however a number of factors have been proposed as potential contributors to sarcopenia. One of these possible mechanisms is the increased circulating cytokines and pro-inflammatory markers (Fig. 1), which are associated with the aging process [16, 110, 111]. Dysregulation of inflammatory pathways during aging is suggested to play a major role in the pathogenesis of various age-related disorders such as cardiovascular events, Alzheimer’s disease and sarcopenia. In fact, elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and TNF-α, as well as decreased anti-inflammatory cytokines, as a consequence of aging initiates a cascade of events, ultimately resulting in impaired response of skeletal muscle to anabolic signals [110]. In younger muscles, anabolic stimuli affects MPS, outpacing it from MPD and subsequently resulting in increased muscle mass [112]. Nevertheless, anabolic resistance in aged muscle deranges this equilibrium between MPS and MPD, which leads to gradual loss of muscle mass [112]. It has been shown that the presence of even low-grade inflammation in aged rats results in irresponsiveness of post-prandial MPS to nutritional stimuli, whereas control non-inflamed counterpart rats have increased MPS after food intake [113]. In addition, long-term prevention of inflammation with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (e.g., ibuprofen) reduces the inflammatory biomarkers and cytokines levels such as fibrinogen, α ₂-macroglobuline, IL-6 and IL-1β leading to enhanced MPS and diminished MPD in aged rats [114].

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) that are essential nutrients with anti-inflammatory properties. Oily fish like salmon is a common source of omega-3 fatty acids, while plant oils such as canola and flaxseed oil also contain omega-3 fatty acids [115]. A large body of evidence supports the beneficial effects of these omega-3 fatty acids in various clinical conditions including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory disorders and cognitive impairments [116]. Omega-3 fatty acids exert their anti-inflammatory activity through several mechanisms including reduced leukocyte chemotaxis, decreased production of eicosanoids from arachidonic acid, and reduced T-cell reactivity [116]. Therefore, it has been speculated that older adults with sarcopenia would also benefit from more omega-3 fatty acids consumption, since inflammation is one of the underlying pathophysiological events during the disease process [15, 111]. Furthermore, it has been shown that the anabolic response of skeletal muscle to AA administration may be enhanced by combining with omega-3 fatty acids supplementation [15, 117]. Smith et al. [15] conducted a study with 16 healthy older adults, aged 65 years or more, to investigate whether supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids for 8 weeks had any impact on the rate of MPS and anabolic signaling. In this randomized controlled trial, subjects were assigned to either omega-3 fatty acid or corn oil (control) group. The measurements were done at basal, post-absorptive conditions and after administration of hyperaminoacidemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp, before and after supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and corn oil. The results of this study revealed that hyperaminoacidemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp induced a rise in MPS in both groups (P <  0.01); however only omega-3 fatty acids could augment this increase (P = 0.01). Similar positive effects on muscle mTORC1 and p70S6K activity, which are involved in anabolic signaling pathways in muscles, were also observed in the omega-3 fatty acids supplemented group (P = 0.07 and P <  0.05, respectively). Overall, the data from this trial suggested a possible role of omega-3 fatty acids in overcoming the metabolic resistance in skeletal muscle and attenuating muscle mass loss in older adults [15]. The effect of omega-3 fatty acids on muscles has also been studied beyond the scope of increasing MPS and muscle mass. In fact, consumptions of omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to improve muscle function by enhancing muscle strength and performance [117–120]. Another study by Smith et al. [117] demonstrated that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids [four 1 g pills per day, providing 1.86 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n–3)/day and 1.5 g docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n–3)/day] for 6 months not only increases thigh muscle volume, but also enhances hand grip strength and average isokinetic power [117]. Similarly, dietary assessments of nearly 3000 elderly men and women have shown positive associations between fatty fish consumption and grip strength in both genders [118].

As discussed earlier, one of the hypothesis behind the beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids on improvement of muscle mass (size) and function is primarily thought to be due to reduced inflammatory processes and its associated biomarkers [110]. To test this theory Cornish et al. [111] recruited 51 older adults in a randomized double-blind trial. Subjects were almost equally assigned to one of two groups to receive either 14 g alpha-linolenic acid/day (ALA, an 18 carbon essential omega-3 fatty acid, i.e., 18:3n–3) through 30 ml of flax seed oil or iso-caloric corn oil (placebo). At the same time, both groups were completing a resistance-training program. After 12 weeks, male subjects in the ALA-supplemented group demonstrated a significant reduction in blood concentration of IL-6 (62±36% decrease; P = 0.003). However, male subjects in the placebo group and women in both ALA and placebo group did not show any significant changes in IL-6 concentrations. Likewise, while the trend of change in blood concentration of TNF-α was parallel to IL-6, it failed to reveal any statistical significant difference. In addition, resistance training with or without ALA supplements was effective in enhancing muscle thickness (P = 0.05), muscle strength (P = 0.006) and LBM (P <  0.01), and ALA had showed minimal effects on these parameters. The researchers speculated that the lack or minimum effect of omega-3 fatty acid in this study in enhancing muscle mass may be due to the supplemented form, i.e. flax seed oil versus omega-3 in fish oil [111]. That is, flax seed fatty acids (18:3n–3) have to undergo desaturation and elongation reactions to produce EPA (20:5n–3) and DHA (22:6n–3), which are already present as the primary omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil [121]. Nevertheless, the potential influence of ALA in lowering plasma IL-6 level in older men is promising for future directions toward the treatment of sarcopenia.

Although consumption of fatty fish and plant-based rich sources appears to be reasonable strategies to achieve adequate omega-3 fatty acids supplementation, research shows that dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids in older adults might be insufficient [115]. Therefore, more research is needed to identify barriers preventing older adults from consuming substantial amounts of omega-3 fatty acids from natural sources. Currently, research shows that consumption of ≥1.27 g/day of omega-3 fatty acids or ≥1 servings of fatty fish per week is associated with higher bone mineral density, greater leg strength and lower time to rise from a chair [115]. Thus, dietary and/or supplemental forms of omega-3 fatty acids both appear as useful and effective ways to improve sarcopenia-related functional impairments in older adults.