Sarcopenia, Aging and Prospective Interventional Strategies

Abstract

Sarcopenia, or age-related muscle decline, occurs in most organisms and burdens both human health and the healthcare system. As our population ages, additional options for treating sarcopenia are needed. Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in the onset of sarcopenia, so therapies directed at improving mitochondrial function in muscle should be considered. Many naturally-occurring compounds, derived from commonly consumed foods, possess anti-sarcopenic effects, such asnicotinamide riboside, tomatidine, and Urolithin A. These naturally-occurring compounds can improve mitochondrial health and efficiency by modulating mitochondrial biogenesis, cellular stress resistance, or mitophagy. Further research should assess whether compounds that improve mitochondrial health can attenuate sarcopenia in humans.

Keywords: Sarcopenia; aging; mitochondria; mitophagy; nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide; phytochemical..

Figure 1. C. elegans muscle specific mitochondrial fragmentation with age

Both the nucleus and the mitochondria within a muscle cell of C. elegans are seen here. The quality of mitochondria can be assessed by the relative morphology and connectivity.In healthy organisms, mitochondria are maintained as a network in muscle cells and other cells, which increases efficiency. This network can be compromised as the organism naturally ages and in premature aging diseases (progeria). This fragmentation of mitochondrial network is associated with decreased healthspan, and is likely tied to mitophagy and other mitochondrial quality control processes. Compounds that alleviate this excessive fragmentation may improve muscle health. (I realy like this images, so clear. I think, it will be nice to include also some with e.g. tomatodin or NR treatment for confirming this reviews contents, if it’s possible)

Figure 2. Representativebioactive small compounds exhibit mitochondrial benefits

Many of these naturally-occurring compounds are derived from common foods, such as milk,pomegranate, plumbago and grapes. Phytochemicals can be innately synthesized by the plant, such as the case for plumbagin and resveratrol. They can also be metabolized in the body to produce the potential anti-sarcopenic compound, such as the metabolism of NR to NAD⁺, or the conversion of ellagitannins to urolithins with help of intestinal microflora. Synthetic derivatives of naturally-occurring compounds are also effective in modulating mitochondrial function through similar mechanisms, which is seen with the resveratrol-derived SRT1720 or the plumbagin-derived naphthazarin. For images used here, Milk: Krans, B. (2014). “Almond Milk vs. Cow Milk vs. Soy Milk vs. Rice Milk”; Promagranate: TrimDownClub (2015). “10 Things We Love About Pomegranates (Plus Pomegranate Recipes)”; Plumbago: brewbooks (2005). Plumbagoauriculata. Wikimedia Commons; Grapes: Council, C. N. C. (2012). “Chicken With Grapes and Rosemary Recipe.”