Abstract
Skeletal muscle mass plays a critical role in a healthy lifespan by helping to regulate glucose homeostasis. As seen in sarcopenia, decreased skeletal muscle mass impairs glucose homeostasis, but it may also be caused by glucose dysregulation. Gut microbiota modulates lipopolysaccharide (LPS) production, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), and various metabolites that affect the host metabolism, including skeletal muscle tissues, and may have a role in the sarcopenia etiology. Here, we aimed to review the relationship between skeletal muscle mass, glucose homeostasis, and gut microbiota, and the effect of consuming probiotics and prebiotics on the development and pathological consequences of sarcopenia in the aging human population. This review includes discussions about the effects of glucose metabolism and gut microbiota on skeletal muscle mass and sarcopenia and the interaction of dietary intake, physical activity, and gut microbiome to influence sarcopenia through modulating the gut–muscle axis. Emerging evidence suggests that the microbiome can regulate both skeletal muscle mass and function, in part through modulating the metabolisms of short-chain fatty acids and branch-chain amino acids that might act directly on muscle in humans or indirectly through the brain and liver. Dietary factors such as fats, proteins, and indigestible carbohydrates and lifestyle interventions such as exercise, smoking, and alcohol intake can both help and hinder the putative gut–muscle axis. The evidence presented in this review suggests that loss of muscle mass and function are not an inevitable consequence of the aging process, and that dietary and lifestyle interventions may prevent or delay sarcopenia.
Highlights
Sarcopenia is a progressive loss of muscle mass and function associated with aging or immobility [1]
Sarcopenia appears to be inextricably intertwined with glucose metabolism, and the maintenance of muscle mass in addition to the balance of insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion plays a critical role in maintaining glucose homeostasis [1]
The simultaneous occurrence of these changes is probably not coincidental since interactions among them can cause many of the underlying defects associated with each, and dietary and lifestyle changes that occur with aging can contribute to each condition
Summary
Sarcopenia is a progressive loss of muscle mass and function associated with aging or immobility [1]. The IGF-1/insulin and NF-κB signaling pathways are pathways are closely associated with maintaining skeletal muscle mass. Sedentary lifestyles are a primary factor responsible for decreases in skeletal muscle mass and insulin sensitivity, and physical exercise is strongly linked to lower sarcopenia risk, especially in older adults [14]. Adequate energy and protein intake helps protect against declines in muscle mass and other specific nutrient intakes, including ω-3 fatty acid, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+ ) precursors, vitamin D, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant containing foods, and dietary fiber, are involved in maintaining muscle mass by modifying insulin sensitivity, oxidative stress, and inflammation [14,15]. This review examines how skeletal muscle, glucose regulation, and the gut microbiota may interact with each other and with diet and lifestyle to promote healthy aging and prevent sarcopenia
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