London - Losing strength as we get older is seen as part and parcel of ageing. But help could be at hand - thanks to the rejuvenating power of apples.
A chemical in apple peel could reverse muscle wastage in older people after just two months of treatment, scientists claim. They hope the discovery could lead to therapies for the elderly that help them keep more active for longer.
Muscle wastage in old age is caused by the chemical ATF4, which starves muscles of essential proteins, leading to a loss of mass and strength.
But ursolic acid, found in apple peel, and tomatidine, which comes from green tomatoes, can reduce ATF4 activity, scientists from the University of Iowa found. Christopher Adams, professor of internal medicine and author of the study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, said: “Muscle weakness and atrophy are big problems as we become older.”
Tests on mice showed ursolic acid and tomatidine “dramatically reduce age-related muscle weakness and atrophy”, raising muscle mass by 10 percent and muscle strength by 30 percent in two months.
Professor Adams said: “Ursolic acid and tomatidine allow muscle to recover from effects of ageing.”
Daily Mail