Benefits of conjugated linoleic acid on aging

University Of Texas Hlth Science Center, San Antonio TX

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Abstract

[unreadable] DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Recent rise in obesity due to increased calorie intake and decreased physical activity is linked to the higher incidence of age-related diseases e.g. cardiovascular, type 2 diabetes and certain malignancies which are known to contribute to functional decline and impaired quality of life in older population. With age, obesity increases fat mass and decreases lean body mass which is found to cause bone loss and subsequent fractures in the elderly. In fact, muscle weakness is the major contributing factor in causing frailty; resulting in disability, acute illness, pain and early deaths. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) as a possible dietary supplement to reduce obesity. CLA is found to decrease fat mass and increase lean body mass in several animal models. Similar results have also been obtained in some human studies. We hypothesize that supplementing low dietary CLA particularly during midlife or late age will prevent sarcopenia and osteoporosis, thereby decreasing falls and fractures, and preventing both morbidity and mortality in the elderly. To establish this clinically related hypothesis we propose to undertake the following studies. Specific aim 1. To measure age-related changes in fat and lean body mass in 6-12, 12-18 and 18-24 months old C57BL/6 mice (mildly prone to develop type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis), with or without CLA (0.5%), and correlate with plasma glucose, insulin, leptin levels and changes in TNF-alpha and IL-6 cytokine levels. Specific Aim 2. To measure age-related changes in BMD, activation of osteoclasts and osteoclast specific transcription factors in bone marrow cells of mice, with and without CLA supplementation. Based on our preliminary data in young mice, if our proposed studies in older mice find beneficial effect of CLA against age related sarcopenia and BMD loss, the results would be very useful to test the feasibility of using CLA as a dietary supplement in the baby boomer population. [unreadable] [unreadable] [unreadable]