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Scientists don't fully understand all the processes that lead to loss of function as people age. But more and more research points to the cell's powerhouses, called mitochondria, as an important player in aging. Mitochondria are largely responsible for generating energy within a cell, but they also produce so-called free radicals, which are molecules with extra electrons that can cause damage — throughout the cell and within the mitochondria itself. Too much damage can cause the mitochondria to stop working properly.
To address that problem, many anti-aging studies and supplements are geared toward reducing the effects of free radicals.
The current study tested a commercially available supplement marketed for relieving chronic fatigue and protecting against muscle aging. The supplement contains the antioxidant coenzyme Q10, creatine — a compound that aids in muscle performance — and ginseng, which also has been shown to have antioxidant properties. (Antioxidants ameliorate damage caused by free radicals.)
The researchers fed the supplement to middle-aged 21-month-old and late-middle-aged 29-month-old rats — corresponding to 50 to 65-year-old and 65 to 80-year-old humans, respectively — for six weeks, and measured how strongly their paws could grip. Grip strength in rats is analogous to physical performance in humans, and deterioration in grip strength can provide useful information about muscle weakness or loss seen in older adults.
At the end of the six weeks, grip strength had improved 12 percent in the middle-aged rats compared with controls. No improvement was found in the older group.
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