Healthy Muscle Aging

    Written by:
    Mike Murray

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Nick Milazzo, Natalka Roshak
    Last Updated: July 21, 2023

    Healthy muscle aging is a goal that focuses on mitigating age-related reductions in muscle mass and function with the objective of preserving independence, quality of life, and general physical function.

    41 references on this page
    2,979 participants in 20 trials and 3 meta-analyses

    Overview

    Examine Database: Healthy Muscle Aging

    Research FeedRead all studies

    Frequently asked questions

    Update History

    Examine Database References

    1. Growth Hormone - Marcell TJ, Taaffe DR, Hawkins SA, Tarpenning KM, Pyka G, Kohlmeier L, Wiswell RA, Marcus ROral arginine does not stimulate basal or augment exercise-induced GH secretion in either young or old adultsJ Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci.(1999 Aug)
    2. Muscle Mass - Campbell WW, Joseph LJ, Anderson RA, Davey SL, Hinton J, Evans WJEffects of resistive training and chromium picolinate on body composition and skeletal muscle size in older womenInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2002 Jun)
    3. Muscle Mass - Campbell WW, Joseph LJ, Davey SL, Cyr-Campbell D, Anderson RA, Evans WJEffects of resistance training and chromium picolinate on body composition and skeletal muscle in older menJ Appl Physiol (1985).(1999 Jan)
    4. Muscle Mass - Joseph LJ, Farrell PA, Davey SL, Evans WJ, Campbell WWEffect of resistance training with or without chromium picolinate supplementation on glucose metabolism in older men and womenMetabolism.(1999 May)
    5. Muscle Mass - Gotshalk LA, Kraemer WJ, Mendonca MA, Vingren JL, Kenny AM, Spiering BA, Hatfield DL, Fragala MS, Volek JSCreatine supplementation improves muscular performance in older womenEur J Appl Physiol.(2008 Jan)
    6. Muscle Mass - Philip D Chilibeck, Mojtaba Kaviani, Darren G Candow, Gordon A ZelloEffect of creatine supplementation during resistance training on lean tissue mass and muscular strength in older adults: a meta-analysisOpen Access J Sports Med.(2017 Nov 2)
    7. Muscle Mass - Forbes SC, Candow DG, Ostojic SM, Roberts MD, Chilibeck PDMeta-Analysis Examining the Importance of Creatine Ingestion Strategies on Lean Tissue Mass and Strength in Older Adults.Nutrients.(2021-Jun-02)
    8. Power Output - Bemben MG, Witten MS, Carter JM, Eliot KA, Knehans AW, Bemben DAThe effects of supplementation with creatine and protein on muscle strength following a traditional resistance training program in middle-aged and older menJ Nutr Health Aging.(2010 Feb)
    9. Functionality in Elderly or Injured - Cañete S, San Juan AF, Pérez M, Gómez-Gallego F, López-Mojares LM, Earnest CP, Fleck SJ, Lucia ADoes creatine supplementation improve functional capacity in elderly womenJ Strength Cond Res.(2006 Feb)
    10. Fatigue Resistance - Stout JR, Sue Graves B, Cramer JT, Goldstein ER, Costa PB, Smith AE, Walter AAEffects of creatine supplementation on the onset of neuromuscular fatigue threshold and muscle strength in elderly men and women (64 - 86 years)J Nutr Health Aging.(2007 Nov-Dec)
    11. Muscle Mass - Percheron G, Hogrel JY, Denot-Ledunois S, Fayet G, Forette F, Baulieu EE, Fardeau M, Marini JF; Double-blind placebo-controlled trialEffect of 1-year oral administration of dehydroepiandrosterone to 60- to 80-year-old individuals on muscle function and cross-sectional area: a double-blind placebo-controlled trialArch Intern Med.(2003 Mar 24)
    12. Muscle Mass - Angelika K Sawicka, Dace Hartmane, Patrycja Lipinska, Ewa Wojtowicz, Wieslawa Lysiak-Szydlowska, Robert A Olekl-Carnitine Supplementation in Older Women. A Pilot Study on Aging Skeletal Muscle Mass and FunctionNutrients.(2018 Feb 23)
    13. Muscle Mass - Hu Z, Jiang S, Hu C, Shen B, Gu JThe effects of circuit-based resistance training on blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and body composition in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Physiol.(2025)
    14. Body Fat - Mojtahedi MC, Thorpe MP, Karampinos DC, Johnson CL, Layman DK, Georgiadis JG, Evans EMThe effects of a higher protein intake during energy restriction on changes in body composition and physical function in older womenJ Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci.(2011 Nov)
    15. Muscle protein synthesis (MPS) - Pennings B, Groen B, de Lange A, Gijsen AP, Zorenc AH, Senden JM, van Loon LJAmino acid absorption and subsequent muscle protein accretion following graded intakes of whey protein in elderly menAm J Physiol Endocrinol Metab.(2012 Apr)
    16. Functionality in Elderly or Injured - Wattanathorn J, Muchimapura S, Tong-Un T, Saenghong N, Thukhum-Mee W, Sripanidkulchai BPositive Modulation Effect of 8-Week Consumption of Kaempferia parviflora on Health-Related Physical Fitness and Oxidative Status in Healthy Elderly VolunteersEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2012)
    17. Functionality in Elderly or Injured - Kelly J, Fulford J, Vanhatalo A, Blackwell JR, French O, Bailey SJ, Gilchrist M, Winyard PG, Jones AMEffects of short-term dietary nitrate supplementation on blood pressure, O2 uptake kinetics, and muscle and cognitive function in older adultsAm J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol.(2013 Jan 15)
    18. Testosterone - Sasikala M Chinnappan, Annie George, Pragya Pandey, Govinda Narke, Yogendra Kumar ChoudharyEffect of Eurycoma longifolia standardised aqueous root extract-Physta ® on testosterone levels and quality of life in ageing male subjects: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre studyFood Nutr Res.(2021 May 19)
    19. Fatigue Symptoms - Shimizu M, Miyagawa K, Iwashita S, Noda T, Hamada K, Genno H, Nose HEnergy expenditure during 2-day trail walking in the mountains (2,857 m) and the effects of amino acid supplementation in older men and womenEur J Appl Physiol.(2012 Mar)
    20. Fatigue Symptoms - Stout JR, Graves BS, Smith AE, Hartman MJ, Cramer JT, Beck TW, Harris RCThe effect of beta-alanine supplementation on neuromuscular fatigue in elderly (55-92 Years): a double-blind randomized studyJ Int Soc Sports Nutr.(2008 Nov 7)
    21. Blood Lactate (Exercise) - Norager CB, Jensen MB, Weimann A, Madsen MRMetabolic effects of caffeine ingestion and physical work in 75-year old citizens. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over studyClin Endocrinol (Oxf).(2006 Aug)
    22. Insulin Resistance - Huang HA Multicentre, Randomised, Double Blind, Parallel Design, Placebo Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Uthever (NMN Supplement), an Orally Administered Supplementation in Middle Aged and Older Adults.Front Aging.(2022)
    23. Insulin Resistance - Yi L, Maier AB, Tao R, Lin Z, Vaidya A, Pendse S, Thasma S, Andhalkar N, Avhad G, Kumbhar VThe efficacy and safety of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation in healthy middle-aged adults: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-dependent clinical trial.Geroscience.(2023-Feb)