Hormone Replacement Men’s Health

Understanding Muscle Loss in Men: Strategies Providers Are Exploring

Article Summary

As men age, gradual muscle loss can impact strength, mobility, and overall health. This article explores contributing factors like decreased activity, nutritional gaps, and hormonal shifts, and highlights multidisciplinary strategies providers are exploring to help support muscle health over time.

Maintaining physical capability is becoming a greater focus in midlife care as life expectancy increases. A proactive, whole-person approach including movement, nutrition, and clinical insights may help support muscle health over time.

While often overshadowed by other health concerns, muscle preservation is an important aspect of maintaining physical function and independence. Healthcare providers are increasingly exploring multidisciplinary strategies, beyond physical activity alone, that may help support aging male patients experiencing this age-related change.

What Is Sarcopenia?

Sarcopenia refers to the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength. [1] It can begin as early as a person’s 40s, although it typically becomes more noticeable after age 60. [2] [3] After age 50, muscle mass declines at an annual rate of 1 – 2%. [3] These changes have been associated with increased fall risk, decreased mobility, and potential metabolic changes in older adults. [1]

Although considered a natural part of aging, early attention to changes in movement, nutrition, and clinical assessments may offer supportive benefits in maintaining muscle function over time.

Contributing Factors

A variety of physiological and lifestyle-related factors may influence muscle health in men as they age, including:

  • Decreased physical activity [4]
  • Inadequate protein or micronutrient intake [1][5]
  • Chronic inflammation [1][6]
  • Changes in anabolic hormone levels (e.g., testosterone, growth hormone) [7][6]
  • Underlying metabolic conditions, including insulin resistance [6]

These variables can interact in complex ways, and personalized assessment is often necessary when determining appropriate care strategies.

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Strategies Providers Are Exploring

🏋️‍♂️ Movement and Resistance Training

Routine physical activity, particularly resistance and functional training, has been studied for its potential to support muscle maintenance in older adults. [3] Some research suggests this approach may positively impact strength and functional independence over time. [8]

🍳 Nutritional Considerations

Up to 46% of older adults do not meet the recommended daily protein intake, which has been associated with muscle loss in some studies. [9] Adequate intake of dietary protein, vitamin D, and essential amino acids is widely recognized as important for maintaining musculoskeletal health. [10] [11] [12] In addition, emerging research is investigating how specific peptides and micronutrients may support muscle protein synthesis in aging populations, although further studies are needed to understand their potential effects fully. [13] [5] [14]

🧠 Neuromuscular and Cognitive Health Integration

Emerging approaches to muscle preservation may include coordination assessments and cognitive screenings, reflecting growing evidence of the relationship between physical balance, muscle integrity and cognitive function. [15] [16]

🧬 Metabolic and Hormonal Monitoring

Changes in protein metabolism or hormonal profiles may influence muscle function. [17] Some providers may utilize diagnostic assessments to evaluate metabolic health, insulin sensitivity, and hormonal patterns in aging men, which may help inform supportive care strategies. [18] [19] [20]

Looking Ahead

While no single strategy addresses all aspects of age-related muscle changes, early attention and individualized care may play a meaningful role. Clinicians are well-positioned to observe signs of age-related muscle changes and help patients explore supportive, evidence-informed options.

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  1. Walston J. D. (2012). Sarcopenia in older adults. Current opinion in rheumatology24(6), 623–627. https://doi.org/10.1097/BOR.0b013e328358d59b
  2. Şenoymak, İ., Egici, M. T., & Şenoymak, M. C. (2024). Sarcopenia and Associated Factors in Adults Aged 40 and Above: A Study Conducted in Primary Healthcare. Cureus16(8), e67618. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.67618
  3. von Haehling, S., Morley, J. E., & Anker, S. D. (2010). An overview of sarcopenia: facts and numbers on prevalence and clinical impact. Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle, 1(2), 129–133. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13539-010-0014-2
  4. Steffl, M., Bohannon, R. W., Sontakova, L., Tufano, J. J., Shiells, K., & Holmerova, I. (2017). Relationship between sarcopenia and physical activity in older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical interventions in aging12, 835–845. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S132940
  5. Liu Y, Liu X, Duan L, Zhao Y, He Y, Li W, Cui J. Associations of micronutrient dietary patterns with sarcopenia among US adults: a population-based study. Front Nutr. 2024 Feb 12;11:1301831. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1301831. PMID: 38410638; PMCID: PMC10894935.
  6. Fan, J., Kou, X., Yang, Y., & Chen, N. (2016). MicroRNA-Regulated Proinflammatory Cytokines in Sarcopenia. Mediators of inflammation2016, 1438686. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/1438686
  7. Şenoymak, İ., Egici, M. T., & Şenoymak, M. C. (2024). Sarcopenia and Associated Factors in Adults Aged 40 and Above: A Study Conducted in Primary Healthcare. Cureus, 16(8), e67618. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.67618
  8. Reid, K. F., Martin, K. I., Doros, G., Clark, D. J., Hau, C., Patten, C., Phillips, E. M., Frontera, W. R., & Fielding, R. A. (2015). Comparative effects of light or heavy resistance power training for improving lower extremity power and physical performance in mobility-limited older adults. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, 70(3), 374–380. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glu156
  9. Krok-Schoen, J. L., Archdeacon Price, A., Luo, M., Kelly, O. J., & Taylor, C. A. (2019). Low Dietary Protein Intakes and Associated Dietary Patterns and Functional Limitations in an Aging Population: A NHANES analysis. The journal of nutrition, health & aging, 23(4), 338–347. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-019-1174-1
  10. Mangano, K. M., Sahni, S., Kiel, D. P., Tucker, K. L., Dufour, A. B., & Hannan, M. T. (2017). Dietary protein is associated with musculoskeletal health independently of dietary pattern: the Framingham Third Generation Study. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 105(3), 714–722. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.116.136762
  11. Wintermeyer, E., Ihle, C., Ehnert, S., Stöckle, U., Ochs, G., de Zwart, P., Flesch, I., Bahrs, C., & Nussler, A. K. (2016). Crucial Role of Vitamin D in the Musculoskeletal System. Nutrients, 8(6), 319. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8060319
  12. Rai, P. (2023). Role of essential amino acids in protein synthesis and muscle growth. Journal of Biochemistry Research, 6(4), 92–96. https://doi.org/10.37532/oabr.2023.6(4).92-96
  13. Church, D. D., Ferrando, A. A., & Wolfe, R. R. (2024). Stimulation of muscle protein synthesis with low-dose amino acid composition in older individuals. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1360312/full
  14. Zdzieblik, D., Oesser, S., Baumstark, M. W., Gollhofer, A., & König, D. (2015). Collagen peptide supplementation in combination with resistance training improves body composition and increases muscle strength in elderly sarcopenic men: a randomised controlled trial. The British journal of nutrition, 114(8), 1237–1245. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114515002810
  15. Divandari, N., Bird, M. L., Vakili, M., & Jaberzadeh, S. (2023). The Association Between Cognitive Domains and Postural Balance among Healthy Older Adults: A Systematic Review of Literature and Meta-Analysis. Current neurology and neuroscience reports23(11), 681–693. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-023-01305-y
  16. Sui, S. X., Williams, L. J., Holloway-Kew, K. L., Hyde, N. K., & Pasco, J. A. (2020). Skeletal Muscle Health and Cognitive Function: A Narrative Review. International journal of molecular sciences22(1), 255. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22010255
  17. Tipton, K. D., & Wolfe, R. R. (2001). Exercise, protein metabolism, and muscle growth. International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism, 11(1), 109–132. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsnem.11.1.109
  18. Stavljenić-Rukavin, A., & Pašalić, D. (2007). Evidence Based Laboratory Medicine in the Diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome. EJIFCC, 18(1), 47–54.
  19. Madan R, Varghese RT; Ranganath. Assessing Insulin Sensitivity and Resistance in Humans. [Updated 2024 Oct 16]. In: Feingold KR, Ahmed SF, Anawalt B, et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278954/
  20. Carmina, E., Stanczyk, F. Z., & Lobo, R. A. (2019). Evaluation of hormonal status. In J. F. Strauss & R. L. Barbieri (Eds.), Yen and Jaffe’s reproductive endocrinology (8th ed., pp. 887–915.e4). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-47912-7.00034-2

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