Balanced Free Essential Amino Acids and Resistance Exercise Training Synergistically Improve Dexamethasone-Induced Impairments in Muscle Strength, Endurance, and Insulin Sensitivity in Mice.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether combining essential amino acid (EAA) supplementation with resistance exercise training (RET) could synergistically counteract dexamethasone (DEX)-induced muscle decline and improve endurance, insulin sensitivity, and glucose metabolism.
Results Summary
The study found that EAA and RET synergistically improved muscle mass, strength, endurance capacity, insulin sensitivity, and glucose metabolism in DEX-treated mice. These benefits were linked to enhanced myofibrillar protein synthesis, neuromuscular junction stability, fiber type preservation, and mitochondrial biogenesis.
Population
Mice treated with dexamethasone (DEX).
Effective Dosage
Not specified.
Duration
Not specified.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
essential amino acid (EAA)-enriched diet | decrease | dexamethasone (DEX)-induced declines in muscle mass and strength | mice | - | attenuates | #1 |
essential amino acid (EAA)-enriched diet | decrease | dexamethasone (DEX)-induced declines in insulin sensitivity | mice | - | attenuates | #2 |
essential amino acid (EAA)-enriched diet | no change | endurance | mice | - | does not affect | #3 |
EAA and resistance exercise training (RET) | increase | muscle mass and/or strength | DEX-treated mice | - | synergistically improve | #4 |
EAA and resistance exercise training (RET) | increase | endurance capacity | DEX-treated mice | - | synergistically improve | #5 |
EAA and resistance exercise training (RET) | increase | insulin sensitivity | DEX-treated mice | - | synergistically improve | #6 |
EAA and resistance exercise training (RET) | increase | glucose metabolism | DEX-treated mice | - | synergistically improve | #7 |
free EAA supplementation | decrease | adverse effects on muscle of DEX | clinical settings | - | counteracts | #8 |
Our previous study shows that an essential amino acid (EAA)-enriched diet attenuates dexamethasone (DEX)-induced declines in muscle mass and strength, as well as insulin sensitivity, but does not affect endurance. In the present study, we hypothesized that the beneficial effects will be synergized by adding resistance exercise training (RET) to EAA, and diet-free EAA would improve endurance. To test hypotheses, mice were randomized into the following four groups: control, EAA, RET, and EAA+RET. All mice except the control were subjected to DEX treatment. We evaluated the cumulative rate of myofibrillar protein synthesis (MPS) using 2H2O labeling and mass spectrometry. Neuromuscular junction (NMJ) stability, mitochondrial contents, and molecular signaling were demonstrated in skeletal muscle. Insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism using 13C6-glucose tracing during oral glucose tolerance tests were analyzed. We found that EAA and RET synergistically improve muscle mass and/or strength, and endurance capacity, as well as insulin sensitivity, and glucose metabolism in DEX-treated muscle. These improvements are accomplished, in part, through improvements in myofibrillar protein synthesis, NMJ, fiber type preservation, and/or mitochondrial biogenesis. In conclusion, free EAA supplementation, particularly when combined with RET, can serve as an effective means that counteracts the adverse effects on muscle of DEX that are found frequently in clinical settings.