MORE MUSCLES HAVE MORE LONG LIVE
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A new UCLA research suggests that older people have more muscle mass , the less likely to die prematurely die .
The findings add to the growing evidence that the global body composition - and not the widely used body mass index , or BMI - is a better predictor of mortality , whatever the cause.
The study, published in the American Journal of Medicine, is a synthesis of previous research led by Dr. Preethi Srikanthan UCLA , a clinical professor in the division of endocrinology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA .
" Since there is no standard measurement of body composition , several studies have addressed this problem by using different measurement techniques and have obtained different results ," said Srikanthan "Many studies on the impact of obesity on mortality have focused on BMI. The our study indicates that the most important body composition, rather than the BMI alone , when it comes to the elderly "The researchers analyzed data collected by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES ) III , conducted between 1988 and 1994 . They focused a group of people that included 3,659 men aged 55 years or over and women aged 65 years or more at the time of the survey. The authors then determined how many of these individuals had died of natural causes.
The body composition of the study subjects was measured using the ' bioelectrical impedance , which provides for the passage of an electric current through the body . The muscle allows current to pass more easily compared to fat , due to the water content of the muscle. In this way, the researchers were able to determine an index of muscle mass - the amount of muscle than the height - similar to a body mass index . They then analyzed how this index of muscle mass was associated with risk of death.
They found that mortality from all causes was significantly lower in the fourth quartile of the index of muscle mass compared to the first quartile . " In other words , the greater the muscle mass , the lower the risk of death," said Dr. Arun Karlamangla , associate professor in the division of geriatrics at the Geffen School and co-author of the study. " So, rather than worry about the weight or body mass index , we should try to maximize and maintain muscle mass over the years "
"We can say that muscle mass appears to be an important predictor of risk of death ," said Srikanthan . "We conclude that the measurement of muscle mass relative to body size is a factor that must be added to the Tools folder of the physicians who care for the elderly. Future research should determine the type and duration of the exercises that improve muscle mass and potentially increase the survival of the people, " the researchers conclude.
Source: Worldhealth
Supplements for athletes
Supplements to promote muscle mass