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It has the “potential” to reduce natural muscle wastage as people get older, say scientists.
The study shows that S-1-propenyl-L-cysteine (S1PC) — a bioactive compound found in aged garlic extract — could have anti-aging properties.
The Japanese research team explained that S1PC promotes inter-organ communication between fat tissue and the brain, ultimately enhancing muscle strength.
It could be used as a daily supplement to improve muscle frailty and general fitness in older people, according to the study published in the journal Cell Metabolism.
The team uncovered how the S1PC compound works in the body to influence muscle function during aging.
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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.”
Anti-aging research has gained a lot of traction due to people living longer worldwide, and the higher healthcare burden.
Drugs that improve age-associated health conditions are currently costly and unsustainable in the long run.
But existing health diets lack scientific evidence-based backing.
The Japanese team set out to identify and develop evidence-based anti-aging interventions by investigating natural compounds found in aged garlic extract (AGE).
They found that S1PC, a naturally occurring compound derived from AGE, activates the enzyme liver kinase B1 (LKB1), a key regulator of cellular metabolism.
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Yoshioka explained that S1PC enhances the formation of a protein complex involving LKB1, which leads to activation of the SIRT1 pathway that promotes secretion of extracellular NAMPT (eNAMPT) from fat tissue.
He says the enzyme eNAMPT is key to the synthesis of NAD+, a small essential molecule involved in cell protection, DNA repair, and energy production.
Rather than acting directly on muscle, Yoshioka says eNAMPT within extracellular vesicles (eNAMPT-EVs) released from fat tissue travels through the bloodstream and acts on the hypothalamus, a key regulatory center 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 benefits of S1PC were further evaluated in aged mice.
Long-term administration of S1PC was found to reduce frailty scores, increase skeletal muscle force, and restored core body temperature.
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A human study showed that S1PC increased eNAMPT levels in circulation, particularly in people with sufficient fat tissue.
The research team say the discovery that the distinct effect of S1PC on eNAMPT-EV secretion is conserved between cells, mice, and humans has “significant” implications for the use of S1PC as a potential anti-aging treatment in humans.
Dr. Shin-ichiro Imai, chairman of the IRPA, 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, as a component of traditional medicine, AGE has been taken for generations 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.