The Role of Ketogenic Diet and β-Hydroxybutyrate in the Prevention of Muscle Catabolism and Sarcopenia in Aging Populations: Mechanisms, Evidence, and Clinical Perspectives - PubMed
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- #aging
- #ketogenic-diet
- #sarcopenia
- Sarcopenia is a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function, posing a public health challenge in aging populations.
- Ketogenic diets (KDs) and β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB) may support muscle health in aging through energy provision and signaling pathways.
- βOHB acts as both an energy substrate and a signaling molecule, influencing histone deacetylase and inflammatory pathways.
- Nutritional ketosis in humans typically results in βOHB levels of 0.5-3.0 mM, potentially engaging beneficial signaling pathways.
- Preclinical studies show that long-term ketogenic diets preserve muscle mass, strength, and mitochondrial function in aging models.
- Clinical evidence suggests protein-adequate ketogenic diets, combined with exercise, may help preserve fat-free mass and improve function.
- Exogenous ketones may enhance post-exercise anabolic signaling, offering additional benefits for muscle health.
- Ketogenic diets show promise as an adjunctive strategy for sarcopenia prevention, but long-term clinical trials are needed to confirm efficacy and safety.