Related Muscle Loss No More? It Could Come Down To This Newly Discovered Molecule
Researchers at Kyushu University have discovered a sulfur-based molecule called lipoic acid trisulfide that enhances the function of a key muscle-repair protein. This finding could lead to new treatments for age-related muscle loss by strengthening the body's natural repair mechanisms.
Why it matters
As global populations age, finding effective ways to maintain muscle mass and physical function is critical for improving the quality of life for the elderly.
Topline Researchers at Kyushu University in Japan have identified a molecule that shields the body's key muscle-repair protein from age-related chemical damage and more than doubles its strength—a finding that could change how scientists tackle age-related muscle loss.
A 75-year-old woman working out in a gym. Photothek via Getty Images Key Facts Researchers publishing Friday in Scientific Reports found that a sulfur-based molecule called lipoic acid trisulfide (which is created in a lab and not naturally found in foods or plants) more than doubled the ability of the body's main muscle-repair protein to do its job.
That repair protein, called HGF, becomes less functional as the body ages due to chemical damage but researchers found that the new molecule made HGF twice as effective and more resistant to the age-related chemical changes.
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