Age-related muscle anabolic resistance: inevitable or preventable?

This article focuses on anabolic resistance, the age-related blunting of muscle protein synthesis (MPS) in response to protein intake and exercise, which contributes to sarcopenia—the loss of muscle mass, strength, and function in older adults. It reviews mechanisms underlying anabolic resistance, including impaired anabolic signaling, reduced amino acid delivery, and systemic inflammation, and highlights that factors such as physical inactivity and obesity exacerbate this condition. The article emphasizes that anabolic resistance is not an inevitable consequence of aging and can be mitigated through combined interventions involving resistance training and optimized protein nutrition, recommending daily protein intakes of 1.0–1.5 g/kg (potentially higher with exercise), per-meal doses of 0.4–0.6 g/kg, and supplementation with essential amino acids, creatine, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids. It concludes that a multifaceted approach integrating exercise, nutrition, and body composition management is essential for preventing or delaying anabolic resistance and its impact on muscle health in older populations.