Anabolic resistance is a clinical phenomenon characterized by a blunted muscle protein synthesis response to typically potent anabolic stimuli, such as amino acid ingestion or resistance exercise. This condition is frequently observed in aging individuals, a state known as sarcopenia, and in various catabolic disease states. It represents a fundamental failure in muscle tissue to efficiently utilize nutritional and hormonal signals for growth and repair, leading to a net catabolic state.
Origin
The term combines “anabolic,” from the Greek anabole, meaning “a throwing up” or “building up,” and “resistance,” from the Latin resistere, meaning “to stand back” or “oppose.” This biological concept arose from observations in the late 20th and early 21st centuries detailing the impaired muscle-building capacity in older adults and patients with chronic illness. The phrase is a specific descriptor within the broader field of protein metabolism and endocrinology.
Mechanism
The underlying mechanism involves multiple cellular and molecular dysfunctions within the skeletal muscle. A primary factor is the impairment of the mTORC1 signaling pathway, which is crucial for initiating muscle protein synthesis following feeding or exercise. Additionally, reduced blood flow to muscle tissue, chronic low-grade inflammation, and altered hormonal profiles, including lower circulating levels of growth hormone and testosterone, exacerbate this resistance. This complex interplay of factors diminishes the muscle cell’s sensitivity to circulating amino acids, hindering effective muscle maintenance and hypertrophy.
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