Relationship of Physical Function to Single Muscle Fiber Contractility in Older Adults: Effects of Resistance Training With and Without Caloric Restriction

• Published in: The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences Vol. 74; no. 3; pp. 412 - 419
• Main Authors: Wang, Zhong-Min, Leng, Xiaoyan, Messi, María Laura, Choi, Seung J, Marsh, Anthony P, Nicklas, Barbara, Delbono, Osvaldo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 15-02-2019
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Body mass index; Body weight; Caloric Restriction; Dietary restrictions; Exercise; Female; Gait; Humans; Knee; Male; Muscle contraction; Muscle Contraction - physiology; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal - physiology; Muscle strength; Muscle Strength - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Muscular system; Obesity; Obesity - physiopathology; Obesity - therapy; Older people; Overweight; Physical training; Resistance Training; Skeletal muscle; Strength training; The Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences; Aging; Muscle fiber; Resistance training; Caloric restriction
• ISSN: 1079-5006; 1758-535X
• DOI: 10.1093/gerona/gly047

Abstract
Background
Previous studies support beneficial effects of both resistance exercise training (RT) and caloric restriction (CR) on skeletal muscle strength and physical performance. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of adding CR to RT on single-muscle fiber contractility responses to RT in older overweight and obese adults.
Methods
We analyzed contractile properties in 1,253 single myofiber from muscle biopsies of the vastus lateralis, as well as physical performance and thigh muscle volume, in 31 older (65–80 years), overweight or obese (body mass index = 27–35 kg/m2) men (n = 19) and women (n = 12) who were randomly assigned to a standardized, progressive RT intervention with CR (RT+CR; n = 15) or without CR (RT; n = 16) for 5 months.
Results
Both interventions evoked an increase in force normalized to cross-sectional area (CSA), in type-I and type-II fibers and knee extensor quality. However, these improvements were not different between intervention groups. In the RT group, changes in total thigh fat volume inversely correlated with changes in type-II fiber force (r = −.691; p = .019). Within the RT+CR group, changes in gait speed correlated positively with changes in type-I fiber CSA (r = .561; p = .030). In addition, increases in type-I normalized fiber force were related to decreases in thigh intermuscular fat volume (r = −0.539; p = .038).
Conclusion
Single muscle fiber force and knee extensor quality improve with RT and RT+CR; however, CR does not enhance improvements in single muscle fiber contractility or whole muscle in response to RT in older overweight and obese men and women.