RESEARCH REVIEW / Age-Related Muscle Loss

When you look in the mirror, do you see less muscle mass than you did just a couple of years ago?

If so, you’re not alone. Up to half of adults will experience this phenomenon in their lifetimes.¹

This rapid decline of skeletal muscle tissue with age is called sarcopenia.

But a more common and accurate term for sarcopenia is age-related muscle loss, or ARM.

Because muscle loss is a visible process, most people assume that observing changes in muscle mass is sufficient to determine if they are experiencing ARM. But the “eyeball test” isn’t the best way to diagnose the problem.

Why?

Because by the time significant muscle mass is lost, ARM is likely well underway.

That’s why muscle weakness – or any noticeable decreases in strength – is a better place to start.

There is one specific test that is reliable, backed by research, and very easy to gauge: hand grip strength.²

Using a handheld device called a dynamometer, researchers can accurately assess and even predict ARM in people based on changes in their grip strength over time.

But even without scientific testing, just being aware of how easy or difficult it is to open jars or hold grocery bags can be helpful. Here are three other early signs of sarcopenia that are harder to spot:

• Decreased stamina to endure physical activities, even walking, without early fatigue

• Slower natural walking speed over time or compared to other people

• Loss of balance especially while standing on one leg.

Recognizing the early signs of ARM is helpful. But understanding the root causes (and how to combat them) provides valuable insight into potentially preventing ARM in the first place.

The research is clear. If you want to help safeguard your muscles from age-related muscle loss, follow these three steps:

1. Maintain neuromuscular signaling.

How? Through resistance training. Studies show that at least two full-body resistance training (weightlifting) sessions per week are all it takes to keep motor neurons engaged and muscle mass intact. Even one session per week may be sufficient to build and maintain muscle mass in older adults — with the right nutritional approach (see below).⁷

2. Improve muscle protein turnover.

Most protein supplements don’t address muscle protein turnover. The easiest way to bolster muscle protein turnover is to supplement with HMB. It’s a natural substance produced in our bodies from consuming the amino acid leucine. The problem is that it is virtually impossible to get the optimal amount of HMB from diet alone.

Research shows only around 5% of dietary leucine converts into the muscle-protecting compound HMB. That means you would have to consume about 600 grams of quality protein per day to get the clinically supported 3-gram dosage of HMB.⁸ 

A recent study in the Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging found that HMB supplementation preserves muscle strength and function in older adults with age-related muscle loss. Even more encouraging, researchers observed that people who took HMB significantly increased lean body mass.⁹

(Important Note: not all HMB is created equal. More on this in a moment.)

3. Improve muscle protein synthesis.

This is not as simple as eating more protein. That’s because the bottleneck is the signaling process — not how much protein you eat.

As more of our existing exercise therapy clients and readers asked us about age-related muscle loss, it became clear that no viable solution in the marketplace addressed the problem.  

So, we assembled the first all-in-one solution that addresses muscle protein synthesis, breakdown, and turnover.

In fact, the feedback has been so strong that we offer a 90-day Love-it-or-Free Guarantee.

This means that if you don’t love Protein Clinic, we’ll refund your entire purchase.

No return necessary.

Seriously. We don’t make you jump through any hoops.

Simply email us or use the Contact Us page on our website if you decide you want a refund. We’ll take care of the rest.

That’s how confident we are you’re going to love Protein Clinic. (Even with this generous “no return necessary” policy, our refund rate is still incredibly low.)

Ready to protect your hard-earned muscle and boost your natural muscle-building potential at any age?

Just click the button below to learn more.