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The Impact of Nutritional Strategies on Muscle Health

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Sports Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 September 2023) | Viewed by 22141

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
1. MTI BioTech Inc., Iowa State University Research Park, Ames, IA 50010, USA
2. Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
Interests: nutrition; β-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB); protein metabolism; amino acids; dietary supplements; skeletal muscle; ageing; muscle protein turnover; muscle health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Muscle loss is a natural part of aging and occurs when the body breaks down protein faster than it can synthesize it. After age 40, the average person loses 1–1.5% of their muscle mass every year. Understanding why it happens and how it affects our bodies is the first step towards proactively managing and improving muscle health. As we advance our understanding of the role of nutrition in muscle health, we have come to recognize the important part that nutrition and exercise play in ageing and disease processes.

Balanced nutrition and exercise have shown beneficial effects on muscle health, but many critical questions remain on the role of dietary supplements in age-related muscle loss and function.  For example, what can cause muscle loss? What are the negative effects of poor muscle health? What nutritional strategies can promote health span and improved quality of life while maintaining muscle function? What are the optimal dietary strategies to promote muscle health and longevity?

The intent of this Special Issue is to highlight the important role of nutrition and exercise in muscle health and function, with a focus on nutrition, exercise and dietary supplements. Preclinical or human original research, reviews or meta-analyses focusing on nutritional strategies and some aspect of healthy ageing, diseases of ageing, or age-related muscle loss and function are particularly welcome for this Special Issue.

In light of your expertise in this subject area, you are invited to submit original research (including short communications of preliminary but significant results), reviews (narrative or systematic), or meta-analyses for this Special Issue of Nutrients focused on the role of ‘The Impact of Nutritional Strategies on Muscle Health’.

Dr. John.A. Rathmacher
Guest Editor

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nutrition
  • skeletal muscle
  • muscle health
  • muscle strength
  • functionality
  • muscle recovery
  • longevity/quality of life
  • disease
  • sarcopenia
  • muscle wasting
  • protein
  • vitamins
  • dietary supplements
  • dietary interventions
  • nutritional interventions
  • translation
  • preclinical models
  • clinical studies/models
  • age-related diseases
  • ageing
  • obesity/sarcopenic obesity
  • protein metabolism
  • caloric restriction

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1885 KiB  
Article
Small-Scale Randomized Controlled Trial to Explore the Impact of β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate Plus Vitamin D3 on Skeletal Muscle Health in Middle Aged Women
by William D. Fairfield, Dennis M. Minton, Christian J. Elliehausen, Alexander D. Nichol, Taylor L. Cook, John A. Rathmacher, Lisa M. Pitchford, Scott A. Paluska, Adam J. Kuchnia, Jacob M. Allen and Adam R. Konopka
Nutrients 2022, 14(21), 4674; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14214674 - 4 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3953
Abstract
β-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB), a leucine metabolite, can increase skeletal muscle size and function. However, HMB may be less effective at improving muscle function in people with insufficient Vitamin D3 (25-OH-D < 30 ng/mL) which is common in middle-aged and older [...] Read more.
β-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB), a leucine metabolite, can increase skeletal muscle size and function. However, HMB may be less effective at improving muscle function in people with insufficient Vitamin D3 (25-OH-D < 30 ng/mL) which is common in middle-aged and older adults. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that combining HMB plus Vitamin D3 (HMB + D) supplementation would improve skeletal muscle size, composition, and function in middle-aged women. In a double-blinded fashion, women (53 ± 1 yrs, 26 ± 1 kg/m2, n = 43) were randomized to take placebo or HMB + D (3 g Calcium HMB + 2000 IU D per day) during 12 weeks of sedentary behavior (SED) or resistance exercise training (RET). On average, participants entered the study Vitamin D3 insufficient while HMB + D increased 25-OH-D to sufficient levels after 8 and 12 weeks. In SED, HMB + D prevented the loss of arm lean mass observed with placebo. HMB + D increased muscle volume and decreased intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) volume in the thigh compared to placebo but did not change muscle function. In RET, 12-weeks of HMB + D decreased IMAT compared to placebo but did not influence the increase in skeletal muscle volume or function. In summary, HMB + D decreased IMAT independent of exercise status and may prevent the loss or increase muscle size in a small cohort of sedentary middle-aged women. These results lend support to conduct a longer duration study with greater sample size to determine the validity of the observed positive effects of HMB + D on IMAT and skeletal muscle in a small cohort of middle-aged women. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Nutritional Strategies on Muscle Health)
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Review

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16 pages, 1793 KiB  
Review
Pharmacological Effects of Urolithin A and Its Role in Muscle Health and Performance: Current Knowledge and Prospects
by Haotian Zhao, Ge Song, Hongkang Zhu, He Qian, Xinliang Pan, Xiaoneng Song, Yijie Xie and Chang Liu
Nutrients 2023, 15(20), 4441; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15204441 - 19 Oct 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 8621
Abstract
Urolithin A (UA) is a naturally occurring compound derived from the metabolism of gut microbiota, which has attracted considerable research attention due to its pharmacological effects and potential implications in muscle health and performance. Recent studies have demonstrated that Urolithin A exhibits diverse [...] Read more.
Urolithin A (UA) is a naturally occurring compound derived from the metabolism of gut microbiota, which has attracted considerable research attention due to its pharmacological effects and potential implications in muscle health and performance. Recent studies have demonstrated that Urolithin A exhibits diverse biological activities, encompassing anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, and anti-aging properties. In terms of muscle health, accumulating evidence suggests that Urolithin A may promote muscle protein synthesis and muscle growth through various pathways, offering promise in mitigating muscle atrophy. Moreover, Urolithin A exhibits the potential to enhance muscle health and performance by improving mitochondrial function and regulating autophagy. Nonetheless, further comprehensive investigations are still warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of Urolithin A and to assess its feasibility and safety in human subjects, thereby advancing its potential applications in the realms of muscle health and performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Nutritional Strategies on Muscle Health)
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29 pages, 3327 KiB  
Review
Body Composition of Male Professional Soccer Players Using Different Measurement Methods: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Jaime Sebastiá-Rico, Jose M. Soriano, Noelia González-Gálvez and José Miguel Martínez-Sanz
Nutrients 2023, 15(5), 1160; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15051160 - 25 Feb 2023
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 8708
Abstract
The performance of male soccer players (MSP) depends on multiple factors such as body composition. The physical demands of modern soccer have changed, so the ideal body composition (BC) requirements must be adapted to the present. The aim of this systematic review and [...] Read more.
The performance of male soccer players (MSP) depends on multiple factors such as body composition. The physical demands of modern soccer have changed, so the ideal body composition (BC) requirements must be adapted to the present. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to describe the anthropometric, BC, and somatotype characteristics of professional MSP and to compare the values reported according to the methods and equations used. We systematically searched Embase, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science following the PRISMA statement. Random-effects meta-analysis, a pooled summary of means, and 95% CI (method or equation) were calculated. Random models were used with the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method. Seventy-four articles were included in the systematic review and seventy-three in the meta-analysis. After comparing the groups according to the assessment method (kinanthropometry, bioimpedance, and densitometry), significant differences were found in height, fat mass in kilograms, fat mass percentage, and fat-free mass in kilograms (p = 0.001; p < 0.0001). Taking into account the equation used to calculate the fat mass percentage and ∑skinfolds, significant differences were observed in the data reported according to groups (p < 0.001). Despite the limitations, this study provides useful information that could help medical technical staff to properly assess the BC of professional MSP, providing a range of guidance values for the different BC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Nutritional Strategies on Muscle Health)
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