Research from Taiwan shows that a Lychee-based phytochemical could help with age-related muscle loss
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Oct 28, 2024 3 weeks, 4 days, 4 hours, 5 minutes ago
Herbs And Phytochemicals: Sarcopenia, a condition where muscle mass and strength decline with age, affects millions worldwide and can seriously impair daily function, mobility, and quality of life. Recent findings from Taiwan suggest that a natural supplement derived from lychee fruit (Litchi chinensis), called Oligonol®, may be a powerful new tool to counteract this muscle loss.
Research from Taiwan shows that a Lychee-based phytochemical could help with
age-related muscle loss
Researchers from institutions including I-Shou University, Providence University, Shu-Zen Junior College of Medicine and Management, and National Cheng Kung University worked together on this study, examining how Oligonol® interacts with key amino acids to support muscle health. This
Herbs and Phytochemicals news report delves into their findings, which reveal how Oligonol® promotes essential amino acid processes, helping to maintain muscle strength and combat the debilitating effects of sarcopenia.
How Sarcopenia Develops and Why It’s a Growing Concern
Sarcopenia results from gradual muscle deterioration due to aging and often accelerates when physical activity becomes limited. In Taiwan, sarcopenia affects around 6-10% of community-dwelling older adults and up to 50% of those in clinical settings. Preventing sarcopenia not only supports independence and quality of life for older adults but could also save billions in healthcare costs by reducing fall-related injuries and hospitalizations.
While exercise is a known way to combat sarcopenia, maintaining a regular physical activity routine can be challenging, particularly for those with mobility or health issues. For this reason, researchers are investigating other approaches, including dietary and supplement-based strategies.
Lychee’s Secret Weapon: How Oligonol® Supports Muscle Health
The team explored how Oligonol®, a low-molecular-weight polyphenol derived from lychee fruit, affects branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). These amino acids - leucine, valine, and isoleucine - play a crucial role in muscle health, helping to synthesize muscle protein. They are known to stimulate muscle repair and growth through the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, which supports muscle protein synthesis.
In aged, sarcopenic mice, the team observed that BCAA levels in muscles were notably lower than in younger mice, while levels in the bloodstream were abnormally high. This suggests that aging muscles may struggle to absorb and utilize these vital amino acids effectively. The researchers hypothesized that impaired BCAA transportation within the body, due to aging, could hinder muscle maintenance and repair, thereby accelerating muscle loss.
The Key Role of LAT1 and BCAT2 in Muscle Health
One breakthrough finding from the study is the role of two specific proteins, LAT1 and BCAT2, in BCAA transport and metabolism. LAT1
is an amino acid transporter that helps move BCAAs into muscle cells, allowing them to activate the mTOR pathway. In the study, aged mice with sarcopenia displayed reduced LAT1 and BCAT2 levels in their muscles compared to younger mice.
In an experimental setting mimicking sarcopenia, the researchers blocked LAT1 in muscle cells, observing a substantial decrease in mTOR activity. This blocking effect diminished the ability of BCAAs to support muscle protein synthesis, highlighting the vital role LAT1 plays in maintaining muscle health.
Oligonol® Enhances BCAA Transport and Boosts Muscle Strength
The real breakthrough came when the researchers administered Oligonol® to aged sarcopenic mice over an eight-week period. They observed a marked improvement in muscle BCAA levels and a decrease in bloodstream BCAAs, suggesting that Oligonol® helped shuttle these amino acids from the bloodstream to the muscles. Additionally, the supplement appeared to reverse the age-related decline in LAT1 and BCAT2 expression, further supporting BCAA utilization within muscles.
The supplement also positively impacted mTOR pathway activity, suggesting a boost in protein synthesis - a vital factor in maintaining muscle mass and strength. In cell-based experiments, a combination of Oligonol® and BCAAs produced even stronger effects on mTOR activity than BCAAs alone, reinforcing the potential of this dual approach for muscle preservation.
Potential for Broader Applications
The study’s authors highlight that Oligonol® could be a game-changer for older adults at risk of sarcopenia, especially those who may struggle to exercise regularly. The supplement’s ability to enhance amino acid transport and utilization could help prevent or even reverse muscle decline, making it an appealing addition to dietary and exercise interventions. Although further animal and human studies are needed, the findings hold promise for more accessible sarcopenia treatment options.
Conclusions
This study suggests that Oligonol®, a lychee-derived polyphenol, could offer a safe and effective way to support muscle health in older adults. By increasing BCAA transport and enhancing protein synthesis, Oligonol® may help to counteract sarcopenia. For people facing age-related muscle decline, this supplement could provide a valuable dietary tool to complement exercise and improve quality of life.
With ongoing research, Oligonol® could be developed as part of a broader approach to managing sarcopenia and related health issues. The study’s findings offer hope for simpler, more accessible ways to address the challenges of aging muscles and maintain independence and mobility into later years.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/21/11549
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