The Impact of Passive Heat Treatment on Skeletal Muscle Perfusion Capacity and Post-prandial Muscle Protein Synthesis Rates in Healthy Older Adults

Rationale: Aging is accompanied by impairments in the sensitivity of skeletal muscle tissue to respond to the anabolic properties of protein feeding, which is suggested to result in age-related loss in muscle mass. Adequate muscle perfusion capacity is essential for muscle mass maintenance, as it determines the rapid delivery of amino acids, nutrients and growth factors to the muscle fiber, thereby stimulating muscle protein synthesis. However, muscle perfusion capacity declines with increasing age. Hence, improving muscle perfusion may be key to augment the sensitivity of senescent muscle following protein feeding in older adults. Although exercise training is an effective way to improve muscle perfusion capacity, there are a number of patient groups that find exercise training difficult to achieve. Hence, alternative strategies need to be developed to improve muscle perfusion capacity. Passive heat treatment (PHT) has been associated with various health benefits in older adult populations, including improved blood pressure, cardiovascular disease risk, and metabolic health. In addition, PHT has been shown to increase muscle fiber capillarization in healthy young adults. However, whether such an intervention improves muscle perfusion capacity, and enhances the anabolic response of skeletal muscle following food ingestion in older adults is unknown.

Objective: To assess the impact of an 8-week passive heat treatment intervention on skeletal muscle fiber capillarization/perfusion capacity and post-prandial muscle protein synthesis rates in healthy older adults.

Study design: single arm, within subject study design

Study population: 14 healthy older (65-85 y) men and women.

Intervention (if applicable): Participants will be subjected to an 8-week (3 x pw) PHT, by means of infrared sauna bathing, intervention. Before and after the PHT intervention the participants will undergo one test day during which blood pressure, body composition, physical function and muscle strength will be assessed. In addition, before and after the PHT intervention period subjects will be complete a 'whole-meal test day' during which the muscle protein synthesis and perfusion capacity response will be evaluated following the ingestion of a whole food meal. Basal and post-prandial muscle protein synthesis and perfusion capacity will be assessed by a continuous infusion of labelled amino acids combined with contrast-enhanced ultrasound measurements. Blood and muscle samples will be collected in order to assess the muscle protein synthetic response.

Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary outcome will be post-prandial muscle protein synthesis rates following meal ingestion.