University of Nottingham - Diet affects women's muscle loss

Women aged 65 and over find it harder than men of the same age to preserve muscle, according to research carried out by the University of Nottingham. The researchers showed that it is more difficult for women to replace muscle that is lost naturally as they get older because of key differences in the way their bodies react to food. The findings mean that men could be more likely to stay strong and fit as they get older. Michael Rennie, professor of clinical physiology, said: "Nobody has ever discovered any mechanistic differences between men and women in muscle loss before. This is a significant finding for the maintenance of better health in old age."