Sarcopenia: Pharmacology of Today and Tomorrow

Abstract

Sarcopenia remains largely undiagnosed and undertreated because of the lack of a universally accepted definition, effective ways to measure it, and identification of the outcomes that should guide treatment efficacy. An ever-growing number of clinicians and researchers along with funding and regulatory agencies have gradually recognized that sarcopenia is a human condition that requires both prevention and treatment. In this article, we review sarcopenia and its common and less known pharmacological treatments, attempt to define sarcopenia in its broader context, and present some new ideas for potential future treatment for this devastating condition.

Formoterol, a Highly β2-Selective Agonist, Induces Gender-Dimorphic Whole Body Leucine Metabolism in Humans

“…exercise training) or expensive or not accepted outside indications (e.g. GH or androgen replacement) [28]. Based on the estimate that 590 μmol leucine is present per gram of protein, the average rate of reduction in Lox observed in the whole group translates to a reduction of protein oxidation rate from 52 ± 4 to 44 ± 4 mg/min.…”

Muscle Quality in Aging: a Multi-Dimensional Approach to Muscle Functioning with Applications for Treatment

“…Of the potential targets for drug development, circulatory, metabolic, neuromuscular, anabolic, catabolic, force generation, and signaling pathways have all been targeted, which are described in brief here. For further information on the pharmacological aspects of sarcopenia, please refer to a prior review by Brotto and Abreu [7].…”

“…1). While several prior reviews have eloquently and thoroughly described aspects of muscle quality assessment [3,4], functional deficit [5], endocrinology [6], pharmacology [7], treatment [8], or exercise training [9], none have yet integrated the clinical, mechanistic, and treatment approaches into a multi-dimensional approach as intended in this review. This article reviews the complex indices and dimensions of skeletal muscle and highlights the concept that its function stems from the interaction of several qualitative characteristics.…”

Evaluation of serum myostatin and sclerostin levels in chronic spinal cord injured patients

“…12 It is likely that, although osteocytes and sclerostin are responsible for cross-talk between bone and muscle, satellite cells (at skeletal muscle level) could have a role in the opposite way. [12][13][14][15] Myostatin is a powerful inhibitor of overall muscle differentiation and growth both in vivo and in vitro. 16 As the inhibition of myostatin pathway facilitates muscle growth, myostatin could be used as a possible biomarker to monitor the evolution of muscular modifications in SCI patients and could also represent a potential therapeutical target.…”