Relative importance of aerobic versus resistance training for healthy aging

This review focuses on the importance of aerobic and resistance modes of physical activity for healthy aging as supported by newly discovered and previously documented health-related benefits that were reported in 2007. Overall, the studies support the prevailing view that both modes have measurable but often different health benefits. They reassert that the relative contribution of aerobic activity is associated with improvements in symptoms related to pain and depression as well as attenuation in age-related weight gain and that the benefits associated with resistance training are associated with increased functional autonomy and favorable neural adaptations. Both modes are associated with a reduction in chronic disease risk. Data continue to accumulate that a synergistic effect on health outcomes exists when both modes are combined. As such, the preferred exercise paradigm would incorporate both forms of physical activity

Multiple routes of chemosensitivity to free fatty acids in humans

Selected free fatty acids (FFAs) are documented effective somatosensory and olfactory stimuli whereas gustatory effects are less well established. This study examined orthonasal olfactory, retronasal olfactory, nasal irritancy, oral irritancy, gustatory, and multimodal threshold sensitivity to linoleic, oleic, and stearic acids. Sensitivity to oxidized linoleic acid was also determined. Detection thresholds were obtained using a three-alternative, forced-choice, ascending concentration presentation procedure. Participants included 22 healthy, physically fit adults sensitive to 6-n-propylthiouracil. Measurable thresholds were obtained for all FFAs tested and in 96% of the trials. Ceiling effects were observed in the remaining trials. Greater sensitivity was observed for multimodal stimulation and lower sensitivity for retronasal stimulation. There were no statistically significant correlations for linoleic acid thresholds between different modalities, suggesting that each route of stimulation contributes independently to fat perception. In summary, 18-carbon FFAs of varying saturation are detected by multiple sensory systems in humans

Evidence for human orosensory (taste?) sensitivity to free fatty acids

Accumulating evidence suggests dietary fatty acids (FAs) may be sensed in the oral cavity. However, the effective cues have not been characterized. In particular, influences from other sensory cues have hampered identification of an independent gustatory contribution. Experiment 1 examined techniques to minimize the formation of FA oxidation products and improve the homogeneity of water/lipid emulsions to be used as stimuli in Experiment 2, a psychophysical study to determine FA detection thresholds in humans. Through sonication of chilled samples held in polypropylene labware and the addition of 0.01% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, calcium disodium salt, homogenous emulsions of unoxidized linoleic and oleic FAs were obtained. Spectrophotometric analysis revealed no oxidation product formation over a 24-h period. Coupled with these techniques, a masking approach was used to minimize other sensory cues imparted from linoleic, oleic, and stearic FAs. Concentration ranges from 0.00028% to 5% (w/v) were prepared in mixtures with 5% mineral oil (w/v) and 5% gum acacia (w/v) to mask lubricity and viscosity effects, respectively. Testing was conducted under red light with nares blocked to eliminate visual and olfactory cues. Oral rinses with 20 ppm capsaicin were administered to desensitize participants to selected irritation effects prior to remeasuring linoleic acid detection thresholds. To determine if the effective stimulus was an oxidation product, oxidized linoleic acid was included among the test stimuli. Detection thresholds were obtained using a 3-alternative, forced-choice ascending-concentration presentation procedure. The mean detection threshold for linoleic acid pre-desensitization was 0.034 +/- 0.008%, for linoleic acid post-desensitization was 0.032 +/- 0.007%, for oleic 0.022 +/- 0.003%, for stearic 0.032 +/- 0.005%, and oxidized linoleic 0.025 +/- 0.005%. The results suggest that linoleic, oleic, stearic, and oxidized linoleic acids are detectable in the oral cavity of humans with minimal input from the olfactory, capsaicin, and viscosity-assessing tactile systems

Metabolites related to gut bacterial metabolism, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha activation, and insulin sensitivity are associated with physical function in functionally-limited older adults

Identification of mechanisms underlying physical function will be important for addressing the growing challenge that health care will face with physical disablement in the expanding aging population. Therefore, the goals of the current study were to use metabolic profiling to provide insight into biologic mechanisms that may underlie physical function by examining the association between baseline and the 6-month change in serum mass spectrometry-obtained amino acids, fatty acids, and acylcarnitines with baseline and the 6-month change in muscle strength (leg press one repetition maximum divided by total lean mass, LP/Lean), lower extremity function [short physical performance battery (SPPB)], and mobility (400 m gait speed, 400-m), in response to 6 months of a combined resistance exercise and nutritional supplementation (whey protein or placebo) intervention in functionally-limited older adults (SPPB ≤ 10; 70-85 years, N = 73). Metabolites related to gut bacterial metabolism (cinnamoylglycine, phenol sulfate, p-cresol sulfate, 3-indoxyl sulfate, serotonin, N-methylproline, hydrocinnamate, dimethylglycine, trans-urocanate, valerate) that are altered in response to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-α) activation (α-hydroxyisocaproate, α-hydroxyisovalerate, 2-hydroxy-3-methylvalerate, indolelactate, serotonin, 2-hydroxypalmitate, glutarylcarnitine, isobutyrylcarnitine, cinnamoylglycine) and that are related to insulin sensitivity (monounsaturated fatty acids: 5-dodecenoate, myristoleate, palmitoleate; γ-glutamylamino acids: γ-glutamylglutamine, γ-glutamylalanine, γ-glutamylmethionine, γ-glutamyltyrosine; branched-chain amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, valine) were associated with function at baseline, with the 6-month change in function or were identified in backward elimination regression predictive models. Collectively, these data suggest that gut microbial metabolism, PPAR-α activation, and insulin sensitivity may be involved in mechanisms that underlie physical function in functionally-limited older adults

Nutrition and physical activity education with advance care planning

Emergent health promotion models are relevant to population aging. We propose examining a model that combines nutrition and physical activity education with advanced care planning as a whole-life approach

Effects of chronic overload on muscle hypertrophy and mTOR signaling in young adult and aged rats

We examined the effect of 28 days of overload on mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling in young adult (Y; 6-month old) and aged (O; 30-month old) Fischer 344 x Brown Norway rats subjected to bilateral synergist ablation (SA) of two thirds of the gastrocnemius muscle or sham surgery (CON). Although plantaris (PLA) muscle hypertrophy was attenuated by aging, mTOR phosphorylation was 44% and 35% greater in Y SA and O SA compared with CON (p = .038). Ribosomal protein S6 phosphorylation was 114% and 24% higher in Y SA and O SA compared with CON (p = .009). Eukaryotic initiation factor 2Bepsilon phosphorylation was 33% and 9% higher in Y SA and O SA compared with CON (p = .04). Translational signaling in young adult and aged plantaris muscle is equally responsive to chronic overload

Efficacy of whey protein supplementation on resistance exercise–induced changes in lean mass, muscle strength, and physical function in mobility-limited older adults

Background. Whey protein supplementation may augment resistance exercise-induced increases in muscle strength and mass. Further studies are required to determine whether this effect extends to mobility-limited older adults. The objectives of the study were to compare the effects of whey protein concentrate (WPC) supplementation to an isocaloric control on changes in whole-body lean mass, mid-thigh muscle cross-sectional area, muscle strength, and stair-climbing performance in older mobility-limited adults in response to 6 months of resistance training (RT). Methods. Eighty mobility-limited adults aged 70–85 years were randomized to receive WPC (40g/day) or an isocaloric control for 6 months. All participants also completed a progressive high-intensity RT intervention. Sample sizes were calculated based on the primary outcome of change in whole-body lean mass to give 80% power for a 0.05-level, two-sided test. Results. Lean mass increased 1.3% and 0.6% in the WPC and control groups, respectively. Muscle cross-sectional area was increased 4.6% and 2.9% in the WPC and control groups, respectively, and muscle strength increased 16%–50% in WPC and control groups. Stair-climbing performance also improved in both groups. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the change in any of these variables between groups. Conclusions. These data suggest that WPC supplementation at this dose does not offer additional benefit to the effects of RT in mobility-limited older adults