Skeletal muscle mitochondrial energetics are associated with maximal aerobic capacity and walking speed in older adults.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lower ambulatory performance with aging may be related to a reduced oxidative capacity within skeletal muscle. This study examined the associations between skeletal muscle mitochondrial capacity and efficiency with walking performance in a group of older adults.

Methods

Thirty-seven older adults (mean age 78 years; 21 men and 16 women) completed an aerobic capacity (VO2 peak) test and measurement of preferred walking speed over 400 m. Maximal coupled (State 3; St3) mitochondrial respiration was determined by high-resolution respirometry in saponin-permeabilized myofibers obtained from percutanous biopsies of vastus lateralis (n = 22). Maximal phosphorylation capacity (ATPmax) of vastus lateralis was determined in vivo by (31)P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (n =

SUBMITTER: Coen PM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3593613 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature