Garlic has long had a place in traditional medicine. Now Japanese researchers say a compound found in aged garlic extract could help slow age-related muscle decline.
The study found that S-1-propenyl-L-cysteine, or S1PC, has the “potential” to reduce natural muscle wastage as people get older. The research was published in the journal Cell Metabolism.
Scientists from the Institute for Research on Productive Aging in Tokyo worked with Wakunaga Pharmaceutical, a Hiroshima-based firm for products of aged garlic extract. The team said S1PC promotes communication between fat tissue and the brain, which ultimately enhances muscle strength.
The researchers said it could be used as a daily supplement to improve muscle frailty and general fitness in older people.
Study first author Kiyoshi Yoshioka said: “During my clinical experience as a physical therapist, I was often frustrated to see older adults lose physical function and vitality simply because they had no specific disease requiring medical treatment.
“This gap in proactive care has driven my research.
“We hope our findings will help improve fitness and muscle strength in older individuals by the simple inclusion of a nutraceutical as part of the daily diet.”
The team investigated natural compounds found in aged garlic extract as part of efforts to develop evidence-based anti-aging interventions. They found that S1PC activates the enzyme liver kinase B1, or LKB1, which they described as a key regulator of cellular metabolism.
Yoshioka said S1PC enhances the formation of a protein complex involving LKB1. He said this activates the SIRT1 pathway, which promotes secretion of extracellular NAMPT, or eNAMPT, from fat tissue.
He said eNAMPT is key to the synthesis of NAD+, a molecule involved in cell protection, DNA repair and energy production.
Rather than acting directly on muscle, Yoshioka said eNAMPT within extracellular vesicles released from fat tissue travels through the bloodstream and acts on the hypothalamus in the brain.
He said: “This interaction is associated with increased sympathetic nervous signalling, which contributes to improved muscle function.
“The findings reveal a novel communication pathway linking fat tissue, the brain, and skeletal muscle, offering new insights into how aging-related functional decline may be regulated.”
The functional effects of S1PC were also tested in aged mice. Long-term administration of S1PC reduced frailty scores, increased skeletal muscle force and restored core body temperature, the researchers said.
A human study showed that S1PC increased eNAMPT levels in circulation, particularly in people with sufficient fat tissue.
The team said the effect of S1PC on eNAMPT-EV secretion was seen in cells, mice and humans, with “significant” implications for its use as a potential anti-aging treatment in humans.
Dr Shin-ichiro Imai, chairman of the Institute for Research on Productive Aging, said: “Our findings present a previously unrecognised and unique function of S1PC in activating LKB1, and in promoting an inter-organ communication that ameliorates muscle frailty.
“We anticipate that S1PC is likely to have a broader anti-aging effect that warrants detailed investigation.”
The researchers said aged garlic extract has been taken for generations as a component of traditional medicine, with no reports of adverse effects.
Imai added: “We have succeeded in expanding the current understanding of how different organs coordinate responses during aging.
“Further research is needed to determine improvements in muscle function in humans and to evaluate the long-term effects of S1PC.
“The presence and possible role of LKB1 in the brain also needs evaluation.”
The findings are also due to be presented at a conference in Florida next month.
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