The Elderly and MetabolismA frail individual was seen to have a lower body weight, BMI, urinary creatinine, and also lower triceps skinfold thickness and serum albumin than those of healthy status. The frail women had higher rates of whole-body protein synthesis and breakdown per kg fat-free mass and lower rates of muscle protein breakdown A frail individual was seen to have a lower body weight, BMI, urinary creatinine, and also lower triceps skinfold thickness and serum albumin than those of healthy status. The frail women had higher rates of whole-body protein synthesis and breakdown per kg fat-free mass and lower rates of muscle protein breakdown as expressed as total amounts per day. The connection between muscle mass and metabolism has been known. When there is an increase in muscle mass, the metabolism rate increases. Metabolism is needed to process food and create energy needed by the body. Frailty increases the effects of aging on protein metabolism by inducing an increase in muscle protein catabolism and a decrease in the muscle mass. Frail women typically have less body weight, and less muscle mass and greater occurrence of muscle catabolism. Thus the current recommendation of 0.87 g/kg/day, of protein may not be enough for women who are elderly and frail.
Why does our metabolism slow down with age? There are a couple of reasons why, but the truth is that metabolism doesn't have to slow down with age. There are factors that contribute to the slow down of metabolism. Factors that can be controlled. People who are getting older usually are less active. Less activity means loss of muscle mass. If we do not change of pattern of eating, then we burn less calories (less muscle mass) and still consume the same amount of calories as before when we were more active. More calories and less burning of calories means that we end of storing more fat. The body also doesn't need to grow anymore as we head into our older years and the human growth hormone is no longer needed so it is produced in fewer quantities. The human growth hormone is responsible for building and for maintaining the lean muscle mass as the hormone diminishes so does our muscle mass. To continue to have the necessary rate of metabolism to burn the calories we consume, it is necessary for us to continue to be physically active everyday.
Studies have shown that men who lift weights can increase muscle strength and slow down the decline of their growth hormone those slowing down the decline in their muscle mass. It is possible to maintain or even increase metabolism as we age just be keeping physically active and by doing all we can to maintain muscle mass. We can do this by living healthy lives, eating proper nutrition, exercising on a regular basis, and also by getting at least eight hours of sleep each night. Metabolism and Your Health
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