Functional Food Mixture Extricates D-Galactose-Induced Skeletal Muscle Impairment in Rats

Rejuvenation Res. 2024 Dec;27(6):181-190. doi: 10.1089/rej.2024.0030. Epub 2024 Sep 9.

Abstract

Aging-related muscle atrophy/sarcopenia is the most common type of muscle impairment that affects the quality of life. In the current study, we examined the effect of a functional food mixture of amla, turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon, and ginger on D-galactose-induced muscle alterations in rats. Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: Control (C), D-galactose (G), and D-galactose + functional food mixture intervention (G + I). Rats in group-G and -G + I were injected with D-galactose (300 mg/kg/day) for 90 days. After 3 months of the experimental period, the rats were sacrificed to collect gastrocnemius muscle. Group-G rats showed elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNFα and NF-kB), atrogenes (atrogin-1 and MuRF1), decreased insulin/IGF1 signaling (decreased AKT phosphorylation), altered mitochondrial dynamics (increased fission and decreased fusion proteins), increased apoptotic mediators (Bax/Bcl-2, and caspase-3), and decreased muscle cell cross-sectional area when compared with group-C (p < 0.05). Interestingly, supplementation with the functional food mixture prevented galactose-induced alterations in the muscle. The observed anti-inflammatory, insulin-sensitizing, mitochondria-protective, and antiapoptotic effects of the functional food could be the underlying mechanisms in displaying positive effects against galactose-induced muscle atrophy and, hence, may be useful for the prevention of age-related muscle disorders.

Keywords: IGF1; aging; atrogenes; frailty; functional food; muscle atrophy; sarcopenia.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Galactose* / adverse effects
  • Galactose* / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Mitochondrial Dynamics / drug effects
  • Muscle, Skeletal* / drug effects
  • Muscle, Skeletal* / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal* / pathology
  • Muscular Atrophy / chemically induced
  • Muscular Atrophy / metabolism
  • Muscular Atrophy / pathology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • Galactose