Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40045114›Full record

ArticleBiogerontology2025

Essential amino acids and branched-chain amino acids are associated with skeletal muscle and inflammatory parameters in older age.

Ching Wah Donna Li, Catrin Herpich, Ulrike Haß, Bastian Kochlik, Daniela Weber, Tilman Grune, Kristina Norman

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Biogerontology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Ching Wah Donna LiDepartment of Nutrition and Gerontology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Nuthetal, Germany, 14558.
Catrin HerpichDepartment of Nutrition and Gerontology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Nuthetal, Germany, 14558.
Ulrike HaßFaculty of Health Science Brandenburg, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany, 14476.
Bastian KochlikDepartment of Food Safety, Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany, 10589.
Daniela WeberDepartment of Molecular Toxicology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany, 14558.
Tilman GruneDepartment of Molecular Toxicology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany, 14558.
Kristina NormanDepartment of Nutrition and Gerontology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Nuthetal, Germany, 14558. Kristina.norman@dife.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Aging is associated with a decline in muscle mass and function, increasing the risk of adverse health outcomes. Amino acid profiling has emerged as a potential tool for assessing skeletal muscle health. This study examines the associations between fasting plasma amino acids, muscle function, and inflammation in healthy older and young adults. Data from 131 participants (101 older adults, 71.5±4.9 years; 30 young adults, 25.5±3.9 years) were analyzed. Skeletal muscle mass was assessed using bioimpedance analysis, and hand grip strength was measured with a dynamometer. Plasma amino acids, kynurenine, and inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6) were quantified using ultraperformance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry and commercial immunosorbent assays, respectively. Older adults exhibited lower levels of glutamic acid, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, kynurenine, and kynurenine-to-tryptophan (KYN:TRP) ratio compared to younger individuals (all p<0.05). In older adults, branched-chain and essential amino acids correlated positively with skeletal muscle index (SMI) and hand grip strength, whereas in young adults, only glutamic acid, proline, and KYN:TRP showed positive associations with SMI (all p<0.05). CRP and IL-6 were associated with several amino acids in older adults but not in younger individuals. These findings suggest that age-related shifts in amino acid profiles may reflect underlying changes in muscle metabolism and function, highlighting their potential as early indicators of muscle decline.

Indexed as

AgingAmino Acids, Branched-ChainAmino Acids, EssentialInflammationMuscle, SkeletalAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAge FactorsBiomarkersC-Reactive ProteinFemaleHand StrengthHumansInterleukin-6KynurenineAmino Acids, Branched-ChainAmino Acids, EssentialBiomarkersC-Reactive ProteinInterleukin-6KynurenineAgingAmino acidsInflammationMetabolismMuscle healthSarcopenia

Identifiers

PMID40045114
PMCPMC11882671

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.