Why is muscle health important for well-being?
Many of the problems encountered in developed countries are a rapidly aging population and the resultant healthcare burden created by morbidity (i.e., disease burden) and mortality. In this time and age where lifestyle modification is a quantifiable factor with an established decrease in harmful outcomes, good muscle health is paramount in preventing bad outcomes and increasing activity and health among all population groups. In this section, we will dive into the physiology of muscle health and why it is important for overall well-being.
Muscle health in Obesity:
Obesity, a world-wide epidemic, has had a negative impact on muscle health through the years of adolescence upwards.
The lower strength in the skeletal muscles can be attributed to the higher levels of inflammatory mediators that occur with obesity. This includes proinflammatory mediators like TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor), interleukin-6, etc.
These proinflammatory mediators can cause a catabolic state in the muscle tissue and decrease muscle buildup (a state of breaking down).
The lipid cell overload can also affect the regenerative effect of skeletal muscle. Obese individuals also suffer from poor neural activation capacity of the muscle fibers secondary to higher levels of adiposity.
Sarcopenia:
This is an age-related decline in muscle strength and mass that increases with age.
Muscle decline can start as early as 30 years of age and increases after age 60.
There is a strong association between frailty and sarcopenia. These people are unable to engage in lifestyle interventions and have an increased propensity for falls, injuries, and increased morbidity.
It is important to note that sarcopenia is also associated with cognitive decline.
Functions of healthy muscle:
It is important to note that healthy muscle plays a vital role in whole-body protein metabolism by serving as a storage depot for amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein.
In the post-pradial state (a state after eating), skeletal muscle participates in insulin-mediated glucose uptake and the maintenance of glucose levels in the body.
Decreased muscle mass and strength are associated with insulin resistance, diabetes, and obesity.
Lifestyle modifications in the form of aerobic and resistance training exercises under the guidance of your healthcare professional help maintain the function of the skeletal muscles and enhance insulin sensitivity and normal glucose levels.
Skeletal muscle growth through a healthy diet and lifestyle modification enables secretion of beneficial hormones like adiponectin that helps with insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism, and decreased levels of inflammation.
The above points show you how fundamentally important muscle health is to overall well-being. I encourage you to stay connected with your healthcare physician, stay active and focused on your health and nutrition, and live long and strong!
