Role of Exercise and Nutrition in Addressing Anabolic Resistance Associated with Aging

Populations around the globe are getting older, which poses an important challenge to society: increasing lifespan while maintaining functional capacity to facilitate wellbeing in elderly. To achieve that, preserving muscle mass and function is key. However, the response of our muscles to nutrition and exercise to generate muscle proteins decreases with aging, which is termed anabolic resistance.​

​Specialized nutrition and physical exercise programs play a critical role in optimizing muscle protein balance in older adults to address anabolic resistance. This is particularly important for master athletes, as preserving muscle structure and function is critical to maintain performance and achieve effective recovery from competition. Combinations of exercise and nutritional approaches based on protein supplementation as well as the use of specialized ingredients, such as HMB, can be helpful to attenuate the impact of aging on muscle mass and function.

​In this seminar, Drs Leocadio Rodriguez-Mañas and Mikel Izquierdo will review changes that occur in muscle with aging and long-term health consequences; describe the concept of muscle anabolic resistance and its’ impact on muscle function; and summarize the scientific evidence on the benefits of specialized nutrition and exercise in addressing anabolic resistance. Originally presented as a live seminar held at Real Madrid's Valdebebas training ground in Madrid, Spain, on November 21, 2023.