Study Finds Seniors with Muscle Loss Due to Sarcopenia Improve with New Prescription Protocol
Researchers published the findings in The Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle on the effectiveness of a new medical protocol to improve muscular function.
The four-month study of individuals ages 65-82 investigated two groups. The first group was provided AstaMed MYO™, an natural astaxanthin medicinal formula, and an interval exercise training protocol. The control group was prescribed the exercise training protocol only.
Over a four-month span, treatment recipients experienced:
40% increase in endurance
14% increase in muscle strength
8% increase in mobility
There was no improvement of muscle strength in the group that undertook exercise alone.
“We saw improvement in strength, endurance and mobility among our study participants who took astaxanthin medicinal formula with a moderate exercise plan,” said Kevin Conley, Ph.D., the study’s lead investigator and a professor of radiology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. In the study, Conley disclosed that he has received research funds from, and is a scientific adviser to, Astavita Inc., which owns the AstaMed brand.
“This gives clinicians an option for their patients who cannot make the substantial lifestyle changes required to halt the crippling impact of muscle loss,” Conley said.
“We are extremely pleased this new research clearly indicates a viable new option to manage sarcopenia. This study is the first of its kind that shows such a significant improvement in muscular strength and endurance using AstaMed MYO™ along with exercise that can make a difference in the lives of millions of aging Americans facing the debilitating effects of sarcopenia,” said Dan Mueller, General Manager of AstaMed.
The nutritional intervention product AstaMed MYO™ is produced in a FDA-regulated facility in Central Washington and has no reported side effects.
This study was supported by Astavita Inc., the National Institutes of Health grants (T32AG000057, UL1TR000423, 1S10OD016201, K23DK099442), the Department of Radiology and Office of the Provost at the University of Washington, and the Prevention Center at the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center.
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News release posted on GlobeNewsWire:
About Sarcopenia
Sarcopenia is a disease that is characterized by progressive loss of skeletal muscle. In sarcopenia, muscle mass and/or quality decrease beyond the normal aging process as a consequence of inadequate lifestyle and other issues leading to a reduction in muscle strength and physical performance. Sarcopenia, negatively impacts Quality of Life (QOL), mobility and independence. Sarcopenia is associated with premature death. It has long been considered a part of the aging process that cannot be managed, even though it is estimated that sarcopenia affects approximately 45% of the U.S. senior population and exceeds $18 billion dollars in direct healthcare costs annually. On October 1, 2016, sarcopenia was acknowledged as a disease condition, and was coded in the International Classification of Disease, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) under the code of M62.84. See also SarcopeniaHelp.com.
About AstaMed MYOTM AstaMed MYOTM is a prescription medical food for the clinical dietary management of sarcopenia. The formulation consists of proprietary natural astaxanthin as well as natural tocotrienols, zinc and vitamin D3. The product is expected to be available in Q4' 2016 from pharmacies.