Nutritional Supplementation in Sarcopenic Obesity

Several studies have confirmed that adequate nutrition, especially protein intake, including at breakfast, or supplementation with amino acids, in association with adequate physical activity plays an important role in the treatment of SO. The supplementation of protein or amino acid preparations (in particular with the 9 essential amino acids including, the branched - leucine, isoleucine, valine), marketed in different formulations, has already allowed to document a significant therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of elderly sarcopenic subjects. In fact, the use of these preparations improves physical performance and muscle strength by inducing the synthesis of proteins involved in the biogenesis and functionality of mitochondria - that is, the cellular organelles responsible for the production of energy in the form of ATP - and of myofibrillar proteins (which constitute the large percentage of muscle mass), both in laboratory animals and in humans.