Anabolic Resistance Syndrome describes a physiological state where the body’s tissues, especially skeletal muscle, exhibit a reduced responsiveness to growth-promoting stimuli like resistance exercise and amino acid intake. This condition fundamentally impairs the homeostatic balance necessary for efficient protein synthesis, leading to a diminished capacity for tissue repair and maintenance of lean body mass. It is a critical factor underlying age-related muscle loss and functional decline, signaling a profound cellular signaling dysfunction. The syndrome signifies a failure to fully utilize available anabolic resources, which accelerates the loss of muscle quality and strength.
Origin
The concept emerged from detailed investigations in gerontology and exercise physiology, specifically addressing the mechanisms behind sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass. Researchers shifted focus from solely measuring circulating hormone levels to understanding the cellular machinery responsible for growth signal reception and transduction. The term combines “anabolic,” referring to building processes, with “resistance,” indicating the impaired cellular reception and response to these essential signals.
Mechanism
The underlying mechanism involves complex dysregulation within the intracellular signaling pathways, notably the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway, which is the master regulator of muscle protein synthesis. Contributing factors include chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, reduced insulin sensitivity at the muscle cell, and potential alterations in amino acid transporter function. As a result, even adequate nutritional or hormonal stimulation fails to robustly activate the protein-building cascade, perpetuating a state of net catabolism over anabolism.
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