Tag Archive for: muscle

The Key to Building Muscle

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The mega meta-analysis I talked about on Tuesday found that every combination of resistance, sets, reps, and number of days per week resulted in increased strength and increased muscle size compared to people who did nothing, but there were some combinations that provided the best results.

Finding the Best Approach to Building Muscle

Without question, lifting multiple sets with heavy weights improved strength the most. Even just one day per week showed an improvement in strength, but the most consistent results were found with at least two weight training sessions per week. What was surprising was that two sessions per week of multiple sets with light weights also saw a significant improvement in strength.

When it came to muscle hypertrophy, or more simply put, muscle size, lifting light weights for multiple sets twice per week saw the same improvement as lifting heavy weights multiple sets twice per week. That seems a little odd but may be supported by another recently published study.

In a pilot study with 22 subjects, half the group was put on a low-resistance, high-repetition weight training program while the other half was put on a more traditional heavy weight training program with fewer repetitions. The low-weight, high-repetition group performed sets of 20 to 24 repetitions, while the heavy-resistance group did the more traditional eight to 12 repetitions per set. The results showed similar benefits. There was an increase in muscle strength and muscle size in both approaches. Also the mean age of the subjects was 59 years. That eliminates the “younger people are stronger to begin with” factor.

Volitional Exertion
The pilot study reveals the key: in both approaches, the subjects were trained to push themselves to voluntary or what’s termed in the business as “volitional exertion.” It doesn’t mean barely able to lift the weight without assistance—it means that it would be a challenge to do one more repetition. It wasn’t the weight; it was the effort.

The Bottom Line

Since I talked about the 3/7 weight training program in the last Super Bowl webinar, I’ve favored that approach the most in my recommendations. It would be the low-resistance, high-repetition, two days per week approach. It seems better for beginners because even a two-pound resistance will produce results as long as they go to volitional exertion.

The author of the Washington Post article got it wrong when she said it would be easy to add muscle; it still requires consistency and effort. But it’s easier because it can be done in the comfort of your own home. Now, if we can just get everyone to do that—but that’s a challenge for another day.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

References:
1. Br J Sports Med 2023;0:1–12. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2023-106807
2. Experimental Gerontology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2023.112219

Finding the Best Weight Training Program

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This year’s Super Bowl webinar on Aging with a Vengeance focused on muscle mass: hanging on to it or building it up if you’ve lost it, and how to make it happen. The fitness columnist for the Washington Post recently wrote an article on weight training that caught my attention, and I decided to take a closer look at the research behind her commentary about how easy weight training could be. There was one point that was glossed over. Let’s take a look at a recently published study that was the basis for her commentary.

Researchers decided to do what could best be described as a mega meta-analysis reviewing thousands of studies on weight training to see which type of program worked best to build strength and to increase muscle size. There were three main focal points: identify the best resistance (light, medium, or heavy weights), the best combination of sets and reps, and the number of days in a week necessary to accomplish the goals of size or strength. They found 192 studies that fit the profile for inclusion in the review. The results of their analysis were depicted in the graphs that are the graphic for this memo. Amazing.

The thickness of the lines indicates the number of studies that examined a specific type of weight training program; that gives us an indication of where the focus of research on weight training has been. In the results section, every combination of resistance, sets and reps, and days per week demonstrated some benefit. Then the researchers tried to tease out whether the use of light or heavy weight was better. I’ll talk about that on Saturday and also give you the key to determining the best weight training program.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Reference: Br J Sports Med 2023;0:1–12. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2023-106807

Protein Intake: Perspective Required

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The research paper that concluded that higher protein intake was associated with muscle loss and sarcopenia seems to offer more questions than answers. That’s actually a good thing, because future research can examine those questions. But there are questions that the researchers didn’t mention.

Researcher Observations

This is an observational study. Simply put, the subjects who completed all the tests were followed for several years, depending on when they joined the study. Therefore, no cause and effect can be inferred because the researchers were watching, not intervening.

The original number of subjects with sarcopenia was low at just 4.3%. With so many subjects over 72, the number should have been closer to 10%. The researchers acknowledged as much. If the study’s subjects had less sarcopenia than the general population, it’s hard to draw conclusions that are helpful to everyone.

My Observations

The single characteristic most closely associated with loss of muscle mass and sarcopenia was age. Protein intake was a covariate for sarcopenia but it was actually in the middle of the pack as a risk; a covariate is a separate attribute that can be measured alongside the primary variable being investigated.

The study included limited data on diet and exercise. I would expect that not very many subjects were exercising at levels high enough to sustain or increase muscle mass. That conflicts with the research data from clinical trials that show that increasing protein intake in older subjects on a weight training program increases strength and muscle mass.

What stood out more than anything was the limited amount of testing for sarcopenia and the mixed bag of testing procedures. If it’s such a problem, which every researcher in aging admits is the case, why aren’t there better diagnostic tools available to diagnose the condition? How can physicians treat a disease they aren’t diagnosing?

The Bottom Line

There is no reason to worry about protein intake as we get older based on this observational study. What we need to do is begin to retain muscle mass or reclaim our muscle through resistance training, better protein intake, and the strategic use of supplements. If you’re interested in a program to do just that, the Taking Back Your Muscle is still available on my website.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Reference: https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/52/2/afad018/7036280

Is High Protein Intake Associated with Sarcopenia?

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If there’s one thing I’ve learned studying health, fitness, and nutrition for 35 years, it’s this: what we thought we knew yesterday may change based on what we learn today. Given that, I was still surprised to see an article in my news feed with a title “High Protein Intake Associated With Sarcopenia.” The Taking Back Your Muscle webinar uses strategies that research has shown help increase muscle strength, including eating more protein. What gives with this latest research?

Researchers selected as their subjects from the TwinsUK cohort. Subjects must be over 60 years old and have completed specific tests since 2010. Just over 3,300 men and women were selected to be included in the data analysis. Researchers examined a variety of variables including education, income, other diseases and conditions, strength, and muscle mass. Protein intake was measured. Researchers did find the opposite of what they expected: higher protein intake was associated with sarcopenia.

Did I get it wrong? I’ll talk about the rest of the study on Saturday. I wouldn’t change your protein intake just yet because there seems to be a larger problem that looms over us as we age. The article is open access, and you can read it at this link.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Reference:https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/52/2/afad018/7036280

Aging Stressor: The Muscular System

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Sarcopenia is the number one issue that impacts muscles—that’s the loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength that comes with age. It can begin as early as the 20s in some and accelerates once we pass 60; it’s thought to be primarily due to the genetics of aging. There’s also little question that a sedentary lifestyle contributes to muscle loss. Losing muscle mass impacts not just strength, but also stamina, posture, balance, and the ability to move your body.

There are several types of muscle fibers, but they all appear to become slow-twitch fibers as we age. And they get smaller. However, and this is important, they don’t ever seem to go away completely. Strength training has been shown to be effective even for people who are 100 years old; they get stronger, which helps deal with all those issues I mentioned before. The research hasn’t demonstrated that muscles will get larger, but most studies end at three to six months, which is too soon to really judge results; it’s probably going to take more than six months to gain back what we lost over many decades.

The key to dealing with sarcopenia is strength training—the earlier in life the better, but it’s never too late. Strength training can encompass many approaches from doing squats by standing up from sitting in a chair (using a walker if balance is an issue), push-ups and other calisthenics, and weight training using bands, tubes, machines, and free weights.

There are hundreds of programs and thousands of exercises to help build strength using every modality. I think it should all begin with an evaluation by a healthcare professional to test posture and balance, as well as strength. The next step is to see a physical therapist who can evaluate your limitations and put together a plan to get you started safely; it’s hard to keep your positive attitude if you get hurt right away and need to pause. Once you get approval and a plan to train, then getting muscles prepared is important. Calisthenics, which include chair exercises for those with arthritis, are a good place to begin.

Final memo before Christmas on Tuesday with one more place to attack when we’re aging with a vengeance.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Should You Increase Your Essential Amino Acids?

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The question from Tuesday was this: how did the essential amino acids affect the transgenic tau mice on the low-protein and normal-protein diets? The addition of EAA to the transgenic mice on either diet appeared to neutralize the impact of the genetic mutation. The brain scans appeared to mimic the scans of the control mice fed either type of diet. There were positive changes in the genes impacted by the EAA supplementation as well as on neurotransmitters and other biochemicals.

Before we get too excited, a couple of facts.


Mice Are Not Humans

The results of this study are exciting when we consider brain health, but this was a study on rodents—the applicability to us as humans may be limited. What is encouraging is that when the same research group did a study on humans with EAAs, they found improvement in attention and cognitive flexibility. They’re now doing a study specific to the aging brain in human subjects similar to this one on rodents. It will be interesting to see what happens when it’s published.


EAAs Are Not All Equal

The EAA blend in this study was slightly different than what is typically offered. The company providing the EAAs for the study included high amounts of phenylalanine, almost the same amount as leucine which seems to always be found in the highest amount. Does that make a significant difference? Phenylalanine is important in the manufacture of signaling proteins. Might that be important for neurological benefits? We just don’t know yet. On top of that, there’s a small percentage of people with a genetic inability to process phenylalanine very well, so they would probably have to avoid higher amounts.


The Bottom Line

While this research update is interesting, there’s still a lot to learn about the use of EAAs for neurological benefit. I’ll keep an eye on it.

However, the research on EAAs and increasing muscle is solid; there’s little question about the benefit of keeping protein intake higher to retain muscle mass as we age. The critical factor is to be consistent, because digestive issues and satiety issues can sometimes derail good intentions. If it helps our brains as well, that’s a bonus at this point.

Tomorrow is the last day of the 25% off sale on Supplementing Your Diet as either a download for yourself or CDs to share with others, and that’s in addition to Member and Insider discounts.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Reference: Science Advances. Oct 2021. (7) 43. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd5046

New Research Links EAAs and Brain Function

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I’ve talked about essential amino acids in the past as it relates to increasing muscle mass in those of us 50 and older. A recently published study may give us another reason for taking essential amino acids: it may reduce, delay, and perhaps reverse neurological signs of dementia.

To understand the research, you have to know about tau: it’s a structural protein found in nerve cells that help stabilize them, and deterioration of tau is associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers in Japan examined the response to normal and reduced protein intake both with and without supplemental essential amino acids in mice susceptible to developing high levels of tau (rTg4510 mice) along with control mice. They used a variety of tests to determine outcomes including brain scans, biochemical analysis, and genetic expression.

Because the data from the brain scans are so visual, they’re the easiest to assess. In the controls, there was very little impact of the 5% versus 20% protein diet in the cortical area. However, in the tau mice, there was evidence of decline in brain matter with normal protein intake, but the decline was much greater in those with reduced protein intake.

We’ll examine the impact of supplementation with essential amino acids in Saturday’s memo. One thing is certain: it’s important to increase protein intake to at least 20% of calories as we get older. Regardless of your age, it might be a good idea to monitor your protein intake by all sources this week.

Reminder: you have the rest of this week to take advantage of the 25% off sale on Supplementing Your Diet as either a download for yourself or CDs to share with others, and that’s in addition to Member and Insider discounts.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Reference: SCIENCE ADVANCES. Oct 2021. (7) 43. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd5046

What Is the Proteome?

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In the week we took off, I spent my time researching a couple of fascinating studies. We all have different ideas of what’s fun, don’t we? For me, getting to research topics in depth is a refreshing opportunity to learn something new. I’m going to share part of what I learned in the next several memos and it’s all about the proteome.

Obvious question: what is the proteome? A proteome is the complete set of proteins expressed by an organism—same idea as the microbiome, but with proteins instead of microbes. That includes obvious proteins such as muscle, hormones such as insulin, or many of the thousands of enzymes and other proteins the body makes. Those proteins may be produced only during specific circumstances and in response to events within and outside the body. The proteins can be systemic or they can occur in individual tissues and cells.

More than what, why is the proteome important? Research has demonstrated that there’s variability in the proteome at specific times during life. The idea is to identify which proteins change and which ones are associated with a healthier life. That’s the first step and I’ll cover a study that did just that on Saturday.

Tomorrow is the monthly Insider conference call. Check out the membership and if you become an Insider before 8 p.m. Wednesday, you can take part.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Reference: Aging Cell. 2018;17:e12799. https://doi.org/10.1111/acel.12799

Should You Take Essential Amino Acids Before Surgery?

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Tuesday’s study left us with a question: what could explain essential amino acids (EAAs) increasing, or at least preventing, muscle loss after total knee replacement surgery? Fortunately, another study examined those factors by obtaining muscle biopsies and blood before and after surgery.

Researchers recruited 41 patients who were having total knee replacement. After randomly assigning them to placebo or experimental group, the experimental group received 20 grams of EAAs twice daily, beginning seven days prior to surgery, until six weeks after surgery. Those in the placebo group were given nonessential amino acids. Muscle biopsies were collected from all subjects the day of the surgery and again either one or two weeks post-surgery with the determination made randomly. Blood was also collected for analysis at the same times as the biopsies.

The researchers found that the subjects taking the EAAs had a significantly increased amount of satellite cells, also known as muscle stem cells that can develop into muscle cells, compared to the placebo group; the ability to build muscle faster could help the recovery process. IL-6 and TNF-alpha were elevated post-surgery in both groups; however TNF-alpha declined by two weeks post-surgery in the EAAs group, which meant inflammation decreased. Based on the changes in cytokine production, inflammation after surgery decreased faster with EAAs than it did in the placebo group.

The researchers concluded that taking the EAAs seven days before surgery increased satellite cells on the day of surgery and promoted a more favorable inflammatory environment post-surgery. That could mean a quicker recovery from surgery and benefits during post-surgical rehabilitation.

The Bottom Line

While there’s more research necessary, I think the use of EAAs before and after knee replacement surgery is helpful. I would extend that even further; I think that EAAs may ultimately prove to be beneficial before and after any type of surgery. In almost every case, muscle tissue is going to be cut and thus will need to repair itself. We don’t know the benefits of EAAs on other connective tissue such as skin and ligaments, but because we’re targeting the key elements of protein with the EAAs, there’s little to no chance of any harm.

Based on these two studies, I think that 10 to 20 grams, spread out in two doses per day, would be the best approach. One important point: take the EAAs 15 to 30 minutes before eating anything or before working out. Those were the protocols used, and it’s the same that I recommend in Aging with a Vengeance for increasing muscle mass as we age.

I’ll be honest: it tastes weird. But I made sure Paula took EAAs before and after her recent carpal tunnel surgery, so you know I think it’s worth the effort.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Reference: J Appl Physiol (1985). 2019 Aug 1; 127(2): 531–545.

Improve Your Posture

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Today is the final post about the physical factors of living and not just being alive, and it’s about your posture, the way you carry yourself. Posture reflects the interplay of your skeletal, muscular, and nervous system: the way you stand, the way you move, and the way you sit. Those all rely on the interaction of the three systems. The key is that we have to train those systems to consciously respond to the way we want to stand or sit until they become automatic.

I was overweight as a kid. One of the things I did was hold my stomach in so I didn’t appear to be so fat. It stuck. I don’t know what it’s like to relax my abs because it seems unnatural to do so. Here’s a secret: you can look five to ten pounds lighter just by holding your abs in and your shoulders back. You also can be taller by training your core to keep your stomach in and training your shoulders to hold your head erect.

There’s a lot going against us. Sofas are soft to sink into, and we do. Even our car seats can make it harder to hold our shoulders back. We are always looking at our cell phones, so we see teens developing the cell-phone hump, which looks a lot like the dowager hump. And even if we stand or sit straight, it may all fall apart when we work or exercise. Do you bend at the waist to pick up a package? Do you run hunched over? Especially when you lift weights, it’s important to get the posture correct so you’re training the correct muscles in the correct movement; that’s why it’s good to have a trainer or physical therapist to help you get started. And by the way, that’s the real reason for the walls of mirrors at the gym.

How do you stand tall? Sit tall? Practice. Once you get the correct posture, you have to keep practicing it until it becomes automatic. We have to fight our nature to slouch standing or sitting. You just have to keep practicing until it becomes automatic. It can impact just about every organ in your body, including your bones. That’s where we’ll pick this up next week.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet