Muscular strength is unaffected by short-term resveratrol supplementation in aged mouse muscle

Abstract

Background and Aim: Sarcopenia is the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, due to aging. It represents a risk factor for physical frailty, reduced mobility, and increased incidence and severity of falls. Several biochemical mechanisms have been linked to sarcopenia such as aged-associated accumulation of oxidative damage that eventually can reduce muscular strength. Resveratrol supplementation has been shown to increase antioxidant content and reduce markers of oxidative stress and damage associated with age. However, the impact of resveratrol supplementation on functional deficits due to aging is less clear. Therefore, the aim of this brief investigation was to determine if short-term, low-to-moderate dose resveratrol supplementation would enhance strength in aged mouse skeletal muscle. Methods: In vivo anterior crural muscle function and tibialis anterior total antioxidant capacity were analyzed in 21-month-old C57BL/6 male mice after 7 weeks of being fed a control diet (n=10) of standard rodent chow or a treatment diet (n=10) of standard rodent chow supplemented with resveratrol (0.05% w/w). Results: The present study shows that 7 weeks of dietary resveratrol supplementation (0.05% w/w) did not alter twitch or peak isometric torque when compared with aged mice fed the control diet. Furthermore, resveratrol did not result in any detectable differences in the total antioxidant capacity of the tibialis anterior muscle. Conclusion: Short-term, low-to-moderate dose resveratrol supplementation does not appear to enhance in vivo anterior crural strength in aged mouse skeletal muscle. Key words: Aging, antioxidants, force, skeletal muscle, torque