Integrative Insights into the Gut-Muscle Axis: Unraveling Its Role in Sarcopenia Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Approaches

Integrative Insights into the Gut-Muscle Axis: Unraveling Its Role in Sarcopenia Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Approaches

Sarcopenia, characterized by the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, poses a growing public health concern, predominantly affecting the elderly. Recent research has illuminated the pivotal role of the gut-muscle axis in sarcopenia's pathogenesis, suggesting a complex interplay between gut microbiota, metabolic pathways, and muscle health. This review offers a comprehensive examination of the emerging evidence on the gut-muscle axis, delineating its impact on muscle physiology and the onset of sarcopenia. We explore the bidirectional communication between the gut microbiota and skeletal muscles, emphasizing how alterations in gut microbiota composition and functionality can influence muscle metabolism, inflammation, and protein synthesis. Furthermore, the review highlights the mechanistic pathways, including microbial metabolites and gut-derived signals, that modulate muscle homeostasis. We also discuss the age-related changes in the gut microbiota and their corresponding effects on muscle biology. In addition, this review critically evaluates current and potential therapeutic strategies targeting the gut-muscle axis. These include dietary interventions, probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, focusing on their efficacy in modulating the gut microbiota composition and ameliorating sarcopenia symptoms. By integrating insights from various studies, this review underscores the gut-muscle axis as a novel and promising target for therapeutic interventions in sarcopenia, paving the way for future research and clinical applications in managing its age-related conditions.