Clinical Interventions in Aging (Oct 2017)
Relationship of quadriceps muscle power and optimal shortening velocity with angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in older women
Abstract
Joanna Kostka,1,2 Joanna Sikora,3 Tomasz Kostka1 1Department of Geriatrics, Healthy Ageing Research Centre, 2Department of Physical Medicine, 3Laboratory of Bioanalysis, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Radiopharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland Background: The goal of this study was to assess whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity is related to muscle function (strength, power and velocity), as well as to assess if ACE inhibitors (ACEIs) and other angiotensin system blocking medications (ASBMs) influence muscle performance in elderly women.Subjects and methods: Ninety-five community-dwelling elderly women took part in this study. Anthropometric data, blood ACE activity analysis, maximum power (Pmax) and optimal shortening velocity (υopt) of the knee extensor muscles, handgrip strength, physical activity (PA) and functional performance were measured.Results: Women taking ACEI were on average almost 2 years older than the women who did not take ACEI. They took more medicines and were also characterized by significantly lower level of ACE, but they did not differ in terms of PA level, results of functional performance and parameters characterizing muscle functions. No correlations of ACE activity with Pmax and handgrip strength, as well as with PA or functional performance were found. Higher ACE activity was connected with lower υopt for women who did not take any ASBMs (rho =−0.37; p=0.01).Conclusion: Serum ACE activity was not associated with muscle strength, power and functional performance in both ASBM users and nonusers, but was associated with optimal shortening velocity of quadriceps muscles in older women. Further prospective studies are needed to assess if ACEIs or other ASBMs may slow down the decline in muscle function and performance. Keywords: sarcopenia, frailty, muscle strength, functional performance, aging, ACE inhibitors
