Sarcopenia is the age-related decline in skeletal muscle due to the wasting of myofiber.
By Dr. Chinta SidharthanMar 26 2024Reviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLM A recent study published in the journal Nature Metabolism reported that low levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and mitochondrial dysfunction observed in sarcopenia and during the aging of skeletal muscles were functionally linked to serum levels of trigonelline, a natural alkaloid.
Phenotypes of muscle aging are driven by factors such as lower mitochondrial biogenesis, decreased cellular respiration and adenosine triphosphate production, and changes in mitochondrial dynamics. About the study In the present study, the researchers investigated whether individuals with sarcopenia had varying serum levels of vitamin B or kynurenine metabolome as compared to healthy individuals to determine systemic changes linked to NAD+ metabolism alterations and mitochondrial dysfunction.
The present study included participants above the age of 60 who had sarcopenia and an equal number of age-matched, healthy controls. Muscle biopsy samples were collected for analysis from all participants. A digital dynamometer was used to measure grip strength, while dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure the appendicular lean mass index.
A wide range of cellular assays were performed to assess cell death, mitochondrial function, knockdown of nicotinate phosphoribosyltransferase gene, G-protein coupled receptor agonism, and stability of the NAD+ precursor.