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Aging of skeletal muscle: a 12-yr longitudinal study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Frontera, WR; Hughes, VA; Fielding, RA; Fiatarone, MA; Evans, WJ; Roubenoff, R
Published in: J Appl Physiol (1985)
April 2000

The present study examines age-related changes in skeletal muscle size and function after 12 yr. Twelve healthy sedentary men were studied in 1985-86 (T1) and nine (initial mean age 65.4 +/- 4.2 yr) were reevaluated in 1997-98 (T2). Isokinetic muscle strength of the knee and elbow extensors and flexors showed losses (P < 0.05) ranging from 20 to 30% at slow and fast angular velocities. Computerized tomography (n = 7) showed reductions (P < 0.05) in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the thigh (12.5%), all thigh muscles (14.7%), quadriceps femoris muscle (16.1%), and flexor muscles (14. 9%). Analysis of covariance showed that strength at T1 and changes in CSA were independent predictors of strength at T2. Muscle biopsies taken from vastus lateralis muscles (n = 6) showed a reduction in percentage of type I fibers (T1 = 60% vs. T2 = 42%) with no change in mean area in either fiber type. The capillary-to-fiber ratio was significantly lower at T2 (1.39 vs. 1. 08; P = 0.043). Our observations suggest that a quantitative loss in muscle CSA is a major contributor to the decrease in muscle strength seen with advancing age and, together with muscle strength at T1, accounts for 90% of the variability in strength at T2.

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Published In

J Appl Physiol (1985)

DOI

ISSN

8750-7587

Publication Date

April 2000

Volume

88

Issue

4

Start / End Page

1321 / 1326

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Time Factors
  • Physiology
  • Muscle, Skeletal
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal
  • Muscle Development
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Knee Joint
 

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Frontera, W. R., Hughes, V. A., Fielding, R. A., Fiatarone, M. A., Evans, W. J., & Roubenoff, R. (2000). Aging of skeletal muscle: a 12-yr longitudinal study. J Appl Physiol (1985), 88(4), 1321–1326. https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.2000.88.4.1321
Frontera, W. R., V. A. Hughes, R. A. Fielding, M. A. Fiatarone, W. J. Evans, and R. Roubenoff. “Aging of skeletal muscle: a 12-yr longitudinal study.J Appl Physiol (1985) 88, no. 4 (April 2000): 1321–26. https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.2000.88.4.1321.
Frontera WR, Hughes VA, Fielding RA, Fiatarone MA, Evans WJ, Roubenoff R. Aging of skeletal muscle: a 12-yr longitudinal study. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2000 Apr;88(4):1321–6.
Frontera, W. R., et al. “Aging of skeletal muscle: a 12-yr longitudinal study.J Appl Physiol (1985), vol. 88, no. 4, Apr. 2000, pp. 1321–26. Pubmed, doi:10.1152/jappl.2000.88.4.1321.
Frontera WR, Hughes VA, Fielding RA, Fiatarone MA, Evans WJ, Roubenoff R. Aging of skeletal muscle: a 12-yr longitudinal study. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2000 Apr;88(4):1321–1326.

Published In

J Appl Physiol (1985)

DOI

ISSN

8750-7587

Publication Date

April 2000

Volume

88

Issue

4

Start / End Page

1321 / 1326

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Time Factors
  • Physiology
  • Muscle, Skeletal
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal
  • Muscle Development
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Knee Joint