Postprandial stimulation of muscle protein synthesis in old rats can be restored by a leucine-supplemented meal

Aging is characterized by a progressive loss of muscle mass. A decrease of muscle protein synthesis stimulation has been detected in the postprandial state and correlated to a decrease of muscle protein synthesis sensitivity to leucine in vitro. This study was undertaken to examine the effect of a leucine-supplemented meal on postprandial (PP) muscle protein synthesis during aging. Adult (8 mo old) and old (22 mo old) rats were fed a semiliquid 18.2% protein control diet for 1 mo. The day of the experiment, rats received no food (postabsorptive group) or either an alanine or leucine-supplemented meal for 1 h (postprandial groups: PP and PP + Leu groups, respectively). Muscle protein synthesis was assessed in vivo 90-120 min after the meal distribution using the flooding dose method (1-C-13 phenylalanine). Plasma leucine concentrations were significantly greater in the PP + Leu group compared with the PP group at both ages. Muscle protein synthesis was significantly greater in the adult PP group, whereas it was not stimulated in the old PP group. When supplemented with leucine, muscle protein synthesis in old rats was stimulated and similar to that observed in adults. We conclude that acute meal supplementation with leucine is sufficient to restore postprandial stimulation of muscle protein synthesis in old rats. Whether chronic leucine meal supplementation may limit muscle protein wasting during aging remains to be verified.