Relationship between diet quality and molecular mediators of muscle health

Maintaining adequate muscle mass is a key component of healthy aging. Loss of muscle mass can lead to sarcopenia development, which decreases physical function and independence. While dietary protein is an important modulator of muscle mass homeostasis, dietary pattern as a whole also influences health with advancing age. However, there is a lack of understanding of the effect of diet composition and quality, beyond protein supplementation, on muscle mass function. This thesis aimed to determine the relationship between dietary quality and it’s components on regulators of muscle mass and oxidative function. We executed this aim through a post hoc exploratory analysis on a dietary counseling-controlled resistance training program in middle-aged adults. Diet quality as measured by the Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015), body composition, muscular strength, and molecular mediators of oxidative function (e.g., VDR, Hes1, Opa1, Nrf2, and Sox) were assessed at baseline and after the 10-week intervention. Correlations between outcome variables were assessed to explore the relationship between HEI components and markers of muscle health (lean mass, strength, molecular targets). HEI total scores showed no consistent correlations with markers of muscle health. Alternatively, raw component scores, such as Whole Fruit, Total Vegetables, and Total Protein food groups diet density were positively associated with Smox, VDR, Nrf2 and Opa1, following the intervention. Thus, raw HEI scores for individual food groups and key nutrients to promote health may be a superior indicator of the relationship between dietary patterns and health markers. Future studies should explore the areas of controlled feeding studies, focused on diet quality with provided foods. Using this design will allow us to see if food groups outside of protein assist in facilitating muscle health or if protein is the greatest determinant of muscle health.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nutritional Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2022

Author dc:creator

• Hamann, Jade

Contributors dc:contributor

• Burd, Nicholas A
• Khan, Naiman A
• Holscher, Hannah D
• Allen, Jacob M

• HEI
• Healthy Eating Index
• SMOX
• VDR
• Nrf2
• Opa1
• Hes1
• US Dietary Guidelines

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2022 Jade Hamann

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/115751

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F115751