‘Exceeded Our Expectations’: One Antioxidant Could Be Key to Keeping Aging Muscles Strong
It supercharges a muscle-repair protein.
Researchers have identified a promising compound that could help preserve muscle strength as people age. Scientists from Kyushu University discovered that a protein called hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which plays a crucial role in muscle repair, becomes chemically damaged over time through a process known as nitration. This degradation contributes to muscle weakness in older adults.
In their investigation, the team tested two antioxidant compounds designed to counteract this damage. One compound, lipoic acid trisulfide (LASSS), demonstrated remarkable results in laboratory studies. Not only did LASSS prevent the nitration damage to HGF, but it also made the protein twice as effective at connecting with cells necessary for muscle repair. The findings surprised the research team, who described the results as exceeding their initial expectations.
When tested on mice with muscle loss, LASSS successfully reduced the damage caused by muscle disuse. Although human trials remain necessary before any practical applications can be developed, the early results suggest a potential strategy for combating sarcopenia—the age-related muscle deterioration that affects millions of older adults and can lead to mobility problems and increased fall risk.
The researchers believe their work opens new possibilities for treating muscle wasting associated with aging and other conditions. Future studies will involve longer-term research and testing in older animal models to determine whether LASSS could eventually help older people maintain muscle health and strength.
Originally reported by Sciencealert →
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