As we age, we become less and less good at absorbing proteins. Added to this is the fact that during aging protein synthesis in muscle decreases, a phenomenon known as “anabolic resistance”. And that is not all: a reduction in dietary protein intake, and therefore in the essential amino acidsAmino acids are the basic substances that make up proteins. Each protein is characterized by a precise sequence of amino acid "bricks". Some are produced by the body by processing food, others, which the body cannot synthesize, must be taken directly with food. that make up proteins, is also very common. In a word, we tend to lose protein homeostasis, that is, the balance between the synthesis (anabolism) and the breakdown (catabolism) of proteins, which are indispensable for all the body’s functions.
This is the premise from which the SoLongevity research group started in order to devise an innovative essential amino acid supplement formulation, AminoAge Plus, specifically designed to act on some of the hallmarks of aging.
“As we age, we tend to lose protein homeostasis, that is, the balance between the synthesis and the breakdown of proteins”
The “plus” formulation
The “basic ingredients” of AminoAge Plus are, of course, the 9 essential amino acids — that is, those that cannot be produced by the body but must be obtained through nutrition: leucine, isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, methionine, lysine, histidine — in a precise composition, designed to ensure the correct daily intake, for a total of 6.5 grams of amino acids. The amino acids are provided in free form, so that the body can absorb them rapidly in the gut, without energy expenditure and without any burden on the kidneys and liver.
The “plus” of the formulation, however, is represented by three boosters that improve the use of the amino acids themselves and, consequently, protein synthesis (anabolism). The three “activators” are pyruvic acid, citric acid and α-ketoglutaric acid, that is, the first three compounds that trigger and regulate the Krebs cycle (the process that, inside the mitochondria, serves to produce energy).
In particular, the addition of pyruvic acid is innovative: its concentration, in the presence of oxygen, maximizes acetyl-coenzyme A, the actual starter of the Krebs cycle. In the next step, citric acid regulates the biosynthesis of fatty acids, a crucial energy reserve. Finally, alpha-ketoglutaric acid is fundamental for the biosynthesis and oxidation of amino acids, which is needed to obtain new proteins.
Calcium in organic form and vitamins B1 and B6
Another distinctive element of AminoAge Plus is the presence of calcium in a bioavailable form (as a pyruvate salt), because it is bound precisely to pyruvic acid, which is an organic acid. This makes the product particularly suitable for peri- and postmenopausal women, who are prone to osteopenia, osteoporosis and bone fragility linked to the physiological decline in estrogen. In cases of malnutrition or diets with reduced protein intake, moreover, essential amino acids further improve the absorption of calcium in the gut and kidneys.
Finally, the formulation contains vitamins B1 and B6, cofactors of protein synthesis itself, which contribute to the reduction of tiredness.
“The AminoAge Plus formula contains a balanced blend of the 9 essential amino acids; 3 Krebs cycle activators that make protein synthesis more efficient; highly bioavailable calcium pyruvate; vitamins B1 and B6”
Action on the mitochondria
As mentioned, a hallmark of aging is “anabolic resistance”, that is, the reduction in protein formation in muscle for the same dietary protein intake. Its causes include both impaired translation of messenger RNA (mRNA, which carries the information from DNA so that it can be used to make proteins) and activation of the target of rapamycin pathway (mTORThe mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) is a set of enzymes (route) that react to food-nutrients, breaking them down and recombining them to build new proteins useful for the "growth of the body". They react to specific hormonal stimuli (Insulin and IGF-1) thus becoming the center of control of growth and cell proliferation in metabolism. This metabolic route is also responsible for the elimination of old and defective cells (Cellular Autophagy) with the double advantage of recycling the fundamental components to produce new cells and eliminate them to prevent them from triggering degenerative and inflammatory processes.). A greater intake of essential amino acids can counteract anabolic resistance by acting on both processes. In particular, the branched-chain amino acids — leucine, isoleucine and valine (so called because of their molecular structure), present in a higher percentage than the others in the AminoAge Plus formulation — have the ability to activate the mTOR pathway, stimulating both the formation of new mitochondria, the “power plants” of cells (mitochondrial biogenesis), and protein synthesis in muscle.
Against the loss of muscle mass
Indirectly, this process is reflected in the maintenance of muscle tissue, counteracting sarcopeniaThe term sarcopenia refers to the progressive loss of muscle mass and related decrease in strength; in addition to the volume reduction in muscle mass, it also leads to a worsening of the latter because:
• the muscle is slowly replaced by adipose tissue (fat),
• the junctions between muscle and nerve fibres (neuromuscular junction) tend to degenerate,
• muscle oxidative stress increases.
, that is, the physiological loss of muscle mass associated with aging and, consequently, the loss of physical performance. It has been shown, in fact, that nutritional interventions with protein dietary supplements or high-protein diets can increase muscle mass and strength in people over 60. It is no coincidence that the Italian Society of Human Nutrition (SINU) suggests that protein intake values for a person over the age of 60 should be higher than those recommended for adults (1.1 g of protein per kg of body weight per day, instead of 0.9). Recent research indicates that an even higher intake, up to 1.5 g per kg of body weight per day, may bring even greater benefits. As we have already reported, an even more effective alternative to proteins is the long-term use of essential amino acid supplementation, since these are absorbed directly in the gut without undergoing the processes needed to make them bioavailable.
For sports performance
Daily supplementation with a blend of all the essential amino acids in free form, such as AminoAge Plus, has shown its benefits in maintaining protein homeostasis. Supplementation in fact stimulates protein turnover throughout the body, including degraded and damaged muscle proteins: an important factor for maintaining muscle mass and function, and increasing strength and physical function.
Anti-aging action on the microbiome and the gut
It is now well known that the gut microbiota is closely associated with aging and metabolism. And a recent study in Nature Medicine showed how maintaining a young gut microbiota age may even play a role against cardiovascular disease. But what does it mean to maintain a young microbiota? According to studies conducted in animal models, quality protein intake, with the right content of essential amino acids, makes the difference. When an excess of non-essential amino acids is provided, in fact, a rapid unfavorable effect is observed on body weight, on intestinal cells and on the microbiota, which reduces the efficiency of the intestinal barrier. Conversely, supplementation with essential amino acids seems to have an anti-aging effect: both by keeping high the relative concentration of bacteria of the genera Akkermansia and Bifidobacterium, which normally tend to decrease with age, and by reducing intestinal inflammaging"Chronic low-grade inflammation" or inflammaging, such as a state of low intensity but constant organic inflammation (associated with an increase in some proteins, the inflammatory cytokines) that causes damage to the body..
In the case of diets or intermittent fasting: against the loss of lean mass
When following low-calorie diets (with or without the use of drugs) or cycles of intermittent fasting, along with fat mass a good share of lean mass is normally lost as well. In these cases, supplementation with essential amino acids, even more than with proteins, is able to reduce the loss of muscle mass, promoting a preferential loss of fat mass, which also seems to improve insulinHormone produced by Langerhans island cells of the pancreas. It stimulates the entry of glucose into the cells, subtracting it from the blood and thus lowering blood sugar. It induces the use of glucose both to produce energy and for the synthesis of glycogen and fats. sensitivity.
Action on the neurocognitive system
Essential amino acids also play a central role in maintaining cognitive abilities. For example, some, such as phenylalanine and tryptophan, are involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. Others, such as lysine and methionine, are involved in the production of antioxidant substances such as glutathione, lecithin and carnitine, which protect neurons from oxidative damage. Some studies have indeed reported an improvement in cognitive performance in a sample of older adults following supplementation with essential amino acids. A retrospective study also showed an association between blood levels of isoleucine, leucine and valine and a lower risk of dementia.
