Sex differences in the response to resistance exercise training in older people.

Mariasole Da Boit,Richard M Aspden,Rachael Sibson,Frank Thies,Arduino A Mangoni,Stuart Robert Gray,Judith R Meakin

doi:10.14814/phy2.12834

Abstract

Resistance exercise training is known to be effective in increasing muscle mass in older people. Acute measurement of protein metabolism data has indicated that the magnitude of response may differ between sexes. We compared adaptive responses in muscle mass and function to 18 weeks resistance exercise training in a cohort of older (>65 years) men and women. Resistance exercise training improved knee extensor maximal torque, 4 m walk time, time to complete five chair rises, muscle anatomical cross‐sectional area (ACSA) and muscle quality with no effect on muscle fat/water ratio or plasma glucose, insulin, triacylglycerol, IL‐6, and TNF‐α. Differences between sexes were observed for knee extensor maximal torque and muscle quality with greater increases observed in men versus women (P < 0.05). Maximal torque increased by 15.8 ± 10.6% in women and 41.7 ± 25.5% in men, whereas muscle quality increased by 8.8 ± 17.5% in women and by 33.7 ± 25.6% in men. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated a difference in the magnitude of adaptation, of some of the outcome measures employed, in response to 18 weeks of resistance exercise training between men and women. The mechanisms underlying this observation remain to be established.

Highlights

The loss of skeletal muscle mass and function can occur in many conditions, such as sarcopenia, cachexia, and general disuse (Baumgartner et al 1998; Cruz-Jentoft et al 2010)
The resistance exercise program resulted in a significant increase in maximal torque (P < 0.05) and faster times to complete the 4 m walk and the five chair rises (P < 0.05) in both sexes
This study has demonstrated for that some of the adaptations that occur with 18-week resistance exercise training differ in magnitude between sexes

Summary

Introduction

The loss of skeletal muscle mass and function can occur in many conditions, such as sarcopenia (age related atrophy), cachexia (wasting associated with disease), and general disuse (Baumgartner et al 1998; Cruz-Jentoft et al 2010). “healthy aging” is associated with a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, approximately 0.5–2% per annum, and skeletal muscle strength, around 3% per annum, after reaching 40– 50 years of age (Baumgartner et al 1998; Clark and Manini 2008). Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American Physiological Society and The Physiological Society.

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Conclusion