An international team of researchers led by the University of Padua demonstrated how oleuropein, a compound in olive leaves, can combat the decline in mitochondrial function linked to muscle aging. The study was published in the prestigious journal Cell Metabolism and conducted by Gaia Gherardi, Cristina Mammucari, and Rosario Rizzuto of the University of Padua's Department of Biomedical Sciences, as well as Anna Weiser, Jerome Feige, and Umberto De Marchi of the Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences in Lausanne. It also included more scholars from the University of Padua, mostly from the Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biology. "Ageing results in a steady loss of muscular mass and strength. This condition manifests itself in an accentuated form in some individuals, resulting in a pathology known as sarcopenia, which increases the risk of falls, fractures, and loss of autonomy, with serious consequences for quality of life", explains Cristina Mammucari, the study's corresponding author. "Sarcopenia is the result of a combination of factors, including the deterioration of mitochondria, which are the "powerhouses" of your cells. These organelles are essential for the generation of energy required for muscle contraction". "Our research has led us to observe that with age, the transport of calcium in the mitochondria is reduced, a crucial step for their activation", explains Gaia Gherardi, the study's first author. This deficit impedes the functionality of skeletal muscle. Oleuropein stood out among over 5000 natural compounds tested for its capacity to improve calcium transport in mitochondria, hence boosting energy generation and muscle function in both adults and the elderly". Oleuropein, which is found in olive leaf extract and is already sold as a human supplement, can also be found in olives and olive oil, but in smaller amounts. These findings open the door to intriguing prospective therapeutic uses, providing new perspectives in the fight against muscle-aging illnesses.
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