Carnosine, taurine and enzyme activities of human skeletal muscle fibres from elderly subjects with osteoarthritis and young moderately active subjects
Observational studyHumans
- Design
- Observational study
- Subjects
- 9 elderly sedentary subjects (65 to 80 years) with knee osteoarthritis undergoing knee replacement and 9 young moderately active subjects (20 to 35 years)
- What was measured
- Carnosine, beta-alanine, histidine, taurine, citrate synthase and glycogen phosphorylase in pools of single type I and type II fibres from vastus lateralis biopsies.
What the authors reported
Carnosine was 53.2 percent lower in type II fibres of the elderly subjects, which the authors estimate reduces intracellular physico-chemical buffering capacity by at least 7 percent. Younger subjects had higher citrate synthase in type I and higher glycogen phosphorylase in type II fibres, differences that were less apparent in the elderly. Reduced activity, reduced meat intake or denervation are suggested as causes.
Limits of this study
Small cross-sectional comparison; the elderly group had osteoarthritis and were sedentary, so age and disease are confounded. Abstract only.
Source
PubMed 16967207 · doi:10.1007/s10522-006-9038-6
Entry checked against PubMed abstract (E-utilities) on 2026-10-19. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.