Dietary milk fat globule membrane improves endurance capacity in mice

Abstract

Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) comprises carbohydrates, membrane-specific proteins, glycoproteins, phospholipids, and sphingolipids. We evaluated the effects of MFGM consumption over a 12-wk period on endurance capacity and energy metabolism in BALB/c mice. Long-term MFGM intake combined with regular exercise improved endurance capacity, as evidenced by swimming time until fatigue, in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of dietary MFGM plus exercise was accompanied by higher oxygen consumption and lower respiratory quotient, as determined by indirect calorimetry. MFGM intake combined with exercise increased plasma levels of free fatty acids after swimming. After chronic intake of MFGM combined with exercise, the triglyceride content in the gastrocnemius muscle increased significantly. Mice given MFGM combined with exercise had higher mRNA levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (Pgc1α) and CPT-1b in the soleus muscle at rest, suggesting that increased lipid metabolism in skeletal muscle contributes, in part, to improved endurance capacity. MFGM treatment with cyclic equibiaxial stretch consisting of 10% elongation at 0.5 Hz with 1 h on and 5 h off increased the Pgc1α mRNA expression of differentiating C2C12 myoblasts in a dose-dependent manner. Supplementation with sphingomyelin increased endurance capacity in mice and Pgc1α mRNA expression in the soleus muscle in vivo and in differentiating myoblasts in vitro. These results indicate that dietary MFGM combined with exercise improves endurance performance via increased lipid metabolism and that sphingomyelin may be one of the components responsible for the beneficial effects of dietary MFGM.

Effects of Nutritional Supplementation with Milk Fat Globule Membrane on Physical and Muscle Function in Healthy Adults Aged 60 and Over with Semiweekly Light Exercise: A Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Trial

“…Finally, the present study did not elucidate the active metabolites or underlying mechanisms for the beneficial effects of MFGM. Our previous study on mice suggested that sphingomyelin is one of the active components that accelerates neuromuscular development (13). Further investigation employing biochemical and detailed EMG analysis is necessary to clarify the mechanisms.…”

“…Our recent studies have demonstrated that dietary supplementation with MFGM, when combined with voluntary habitual exercise, improves both muscle mass and strength (12), and endurance capacity in mice (13). Our previous study revealed that the beneficial effects of dietary MFGM on skeletal muscles were associated with the stimulation of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) development, which is a critical structure of a motor unit.…”

Dietary supplementation with bovine-derived milk fat globule membrane lipids promotes neuromuscular development in growing rats

“…The soleus muscle is a prototypical slow-twitch muscle consisting primarily of Type I myofibres and thus a slow-to-fast fibre type shift could be seen to disrupt the normal profile of the soleus with the potential for possible negative effects on oxidative capacity. Nevertheless, Satoshi et al 2014 reported that mice receiving MFGM supplementation displayed increased muscular endurance capacity in association with increased soleus muscle mRNA expression of oxidative genes including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α ( Pgc1α ) and Cpt-1b [50]. …”

Ameliorating Effects of Sphingomyelin-Based Liposomes on Sarcopenia in Senescence-Accelerated Mice

“…Dietary supplementation with sphingomyelin combined with exercise increases the swimming time of mice and the level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) mRNA expression in the soleus muscle of mice. 15) It was shown in mice that sphingosine-1-phosphate, a product of sphingomyelin metabolism, promotes skeletal muscle regeneration. 16,17) In addition, sphingosine-1-phosphate stimulates the growth of human airway smooth muscle cells and increases in muscle contractile force in mice.…”