Whey Protein Supplementation Post Resistance Exercise in Elderly Men Induces Changes in Muscle miRNA's Compared to Resistance Exercise Alone.
Randall F D'Souza, Nina Zeng, James F Markworth, Vandre C Figueiredo, Christopher P Hedges, Aaron C Petersen, Paul A Della Gatta, David Cameron-Smith, Cameron J Mitchell
Author Information
Randall F D'Souza: Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Nina Zeng: Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
James F Markworth: Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Vandre C Figueiredo: Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Christopher P Hedges: Applied Surgery and Metabolism Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Aaron C Petersen: Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Paul A Della Gatta: Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
David Cameron-Smith: Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Cameron J Mitchell: Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Progressive muscle loss with aging results in decreased physical function, frailty, and impaired metabolic health. Deficits in anabolic signaling contribute to an impaired ability for aged skeletal muscle to adapt in response to exercise and protein feeding. One potential contributing mechanism could be exerted by dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs). Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine if graded protein doses consumed after resistance exercise altered muscle miRNA expression in elderly men. Twenty-three senior men (67.9 ± 0.9 years) performed a bout of resistance exercise and were randomized to consume either a placebo, 20 or 40 g of whey protein ( = 8, = 7, and = 8, respectively). biopsies were collected before, 2 and 4 h after exercise. Expression of 19 miRNAs, previously identified to influence muscle phenotype, were measured via RT-PCR. Of these, miR-16-5p was altered with exercise in all groups ( = 0.032). Expression of miR-15a and-499a increased only in the placebo group 4 h after exercise and miR-451a expression increased following exercise only in the 40 g whey supplementation group. Changes in p-P70S6K and p-Akt following exercise were correlated with alterations in miR-208a and-499a and-206 expression, irrespective of protein dose, suggesting a possible role for miRNA in the regulation of acute phosphorylation events during early hours of exercise recovery.
