Global health expert urges exercisers to think ‘beyond the gym’ for muscle maintenance

While the benefits of resistance exercise for muscle building and maintenance are generally well known, Professor Luc van Loon, a leading health researcher from Maastricht University, in the Netherlands, also stresses the need for exercisers to consume ample high-quality dietary protein.

Professor van Loon is in Australia to share developments in muscle-related science with local health experts, in particular those working with active adults and older Australians.

He explains “muscle maintenance is not just for ‘gym-ers’. It’s important for anyone who is already active and absolutely critical for Australia’s older population.

"Aging is accompanied by the loss of skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength, leading to the loss of functional capacity. This, in turn, can lead to a more sedentary lifestyle and a greater risk of developing chronic metabolic disease and associated cardiovascular complications.

“These health issues make people more dependent on the healthcare system and are often accompanied by a reduced quality of life.”

Professor van Loon’s research team investigates the synergy between physical activity and protein intake as a means to stimulate muscle protein synthesis and, as such, to support muscle mass maintenance in the elderly population.

He adds “being physically active prior to a meal or snack is of particular relevance to allow dietary protein that is consumed to be adequately used to synthesise new muscle protein.”

According to Dairy Australia’s Nutrition Science Manager, Dr Roxanne Portolesi, Australians typically consume protein-rich meals at dinner time with too little protein consumed at breakfast and lunch.

Dr Portolesi states “we need to re-think our approach to protein intake and ensure that it is consumed across the day, for example milk and cereal at breakfast, yogurt as a snack, a flavoured milk before exercise, cheese in a salad or sandwich and dairy as a dinner ingredient or dessert.

“There are many ways that Australians can boost their protein intake as well as benefit from dairy’s other nine essential nutrients.”

Prof. van Loon stresses that skeletal muscle is continually being built and broken down. Simple steps can be taken to ensure a proper balance between synthesis and breakdown, thereby maintaining muscle mass and function.

His warning comes in the wake of new research that highlights just how quickly muscle atrophy can occur.

The Dutch study, co-authored by Professor van Loon, found that just five days of muscle disuse, such as during bed rest or limb immobilisation as a result of injury or illness, has a significant impact on muscle mass and strength. 

14th April 2014 - DELOITTE PREDICTS SIGNIFICANT GROWTH FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS INDUSTRIES