Slight chronic elevation of C-reactive protein is associated with lower aerobic fitness but does not impair meal-induced stimulation of muscle protein metabolism in healthy old men

摘要

Key pointsDevelopment of low grade inflammation has been correlated with sarcopenia in humans and shown to induce an anabolic resistance of muscle protein metabolism to dietary amino acid intake in an animal model. Low grade inflammation is clinically and routinely detected in humans by measurement of the plasma C-reactive protein level. In healthy elderly individuals presenting a slight but chronic elevation of C-reactive protein, we show that neither muscle, nor whole body protein metabolism was affected. By contrast, a decrease in aerobic fitness, an increase in abdominal fat mass and a post-prandial insulin resistance was detected. Our results show that the unique detection of chronic C-reactive protein elevation could predict a decrease in aerobic fitness and insulin resistance installation in elderly individuals but not muscle anabolic resistance to food intake.