Age-related muscle loss: How to keep it at bay

MANILA, Philippines — One moment you’re feeling young, strong and invincible, and able to carry on your youth’s incredible string of physical activities, but the next moment, you feel trapped in an old person’s body — weak, slow and unable to keep up with everyone else. Even walking may become a struggle for you.

This is called involuntary age-related muscle decay or loss, and older adults are vulnerable to it. Starting at around the age of 40, adults can lose up to 8% of their muscle mass per decade and this rate of loss almost doubles after the age of 70.

Normal muscle function

The human body has over 600 muscles working together to enable the full functioning of the bodily system. Supporting movement, stability, digestion and circulation, among others, muscles provide strength and energy needed for everyday activities.

“Muscles are the largest component of our total lean body mass, which is everything that makes up our body except for fat. In fact, muscles usually account for 50% to 60% of our body weight. This is why healthy muscles are essential to a person’s physical strength, organ function, skin integrity, immunity and wound healing,” explained Dr. Jose Dimaano Jr., Medical Director for Abbott’s nutrition business in the Asia Pacific.

He added: “As we age, muscle fibers shrink. Muscle tissues are also replaced more slowly, and often by tough, fibrous or fatty tissues that are rigid. And if you don’t meet your nutritional and exercise needs, your muscles will be less efficient in their ability to contract, leading to diminished strength and function.”

Muscle decay

The condition of advanced muscle decay and function is called Sarcopenia, which may affect nearly one out of three people over the age of 50. Sarcopenia can significantly impact a person’s quality of life and drive health complications. Drastic muscle decay can impede the ability to do simple tasks such as walking, climbing a flight of stairs or even standing up from a chair. The condition can also increase incidences of falls and fractures that can cause disability, hospitalization and loss of independence.

”Malnutrition is one of the many factors that can quicken muscle mass loss among older adults,” Dr. Dimaano added. “What’s tricky is that malnutrition is actually common but often goes undetected because it can be asymptomatic or dismissed as part of the aging process.”

Early detection and intervention

Dr. Dimaano stressed the value of early detection and intervention to address nutritional gaps to prevent Sarcopenia.

“Consuming a healthy diet and proper exercise are critical to both prevent and treat Sarcopenia,” he pointed out.

Choosing a balanced diet full of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy fats and key vitamins and minerals, like Calcium and Vitamin D, can help protect muscle mass. Older adults should also look to protein and HMB (β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate).

Protein forms, builds and repairs the physical structure of every part of the body. High-protein foods include meat, fish, beans, soy and nuts.

HMB is a small molecule found in the body after the amino acid leucine is metabolized. HMB has been shown to support healthy aging. In one study, HMB supplementation among older hospitalized adults was associated with increased handgrip strength. HMB occurs naturally in foods such as avocados and grapefruit, but it is difficult to get enough of it from diet alone to experience its effects. Oral nutrition supplements that contain HMB can help support muscle health.

“We often don’t get the right amount of nutrients our body needs from our meals alone,” added Dr. Dimaano. “That’s why Abbott develops science-based nutrition for people of all ages, including oral nutrition supplements with HMB to help Filipino adults stay strong and active.”

Abbott’s Ensure Gold provides a good amount of HMB + Triple Protein to help older adults slow down age-related muscle decay. This helps empower older adults to lead active, independent and full lives throughout their golden years.

“What we want people to understand is that while aging is natural, age-related muscle decay doesn’t have to be inevitable. Eating healthier, engaging in physical activity and using HMB nutritional supplementation are the right steps toward preserving muscle strength,” Dr. Dimaano said.

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