BUFFALO, NY — November 11, 2025 — A new #research paper was #published in Volume 17, Issue 10 of Aging-US on October 1, 2025, titled “L-β-aminoisobutyric acid (L-BAIBA) in combination with voluntary wheel running exercise enhances musculoskeletal properties in middle-age male mice.”
In this study led by first author Julian A. Vallejo and corresponding author Michael J. Wacker from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, researchers investigated how L-β-aminoisobutyric acid (L-BAIBA), a natural compound released during exercise, works together with regular physical activity to improve muscle and bone health in middle-aged male mice. The findings may support new strategies to maintain musculoskeletal health in aging populations, especially those at risk for mobility loss or osteoporosis.
Muscle and bone strength naturally decline with age, increasing the risk of falls, fractures, and reduced quality of life. While exercise remains the most effective way to counteract this deterioration, it is often difficult for older individuals to maintain sufficient activity levels to see results. L-BAIBA, a molecule naturally produced during physical activity, is known to promote energy metabolism and support muscle and bone cells. This study explored its potential to work in synergy with endurance exercise to maximize health benefits in aging bodies.
Researchers studied 12-month-old male mice that were split into different groups. Some remained sedentary, while others exercised freely on running wheels. Half of each group received daily L-BAIBA supplementation. After three months, the mice that received both the supplement and exercise showed greater improvements than those receiving either one alone. The soleus, a slow-twitch muscle essential for endurance and balance, grew larger and stronger only in the combined treatment group. These muscles also shifted to a more fatigue-resistant fiber type and had a larger number of oxidative fibers.
“To investigate this hypothesis, we subjected 12-month-old (as a model of middle-age) male C57BL6 mice to voluntary wheel running (VWR) with L-BAIBA (100mg/kg/day) (VWR+L-BAIBA), VWR alone, L-BAIBA alone, or none (CTRL) for three months.”
The study also showed significant improvements in bone health. Mice that received both exercise and L-BAIBA developed thicker and denser trabecular bone, along with reduced fat levels in the bone marrow, indicators of stronger, healthier bones. These changes were not observed in the groups that only exercised or only received L-BAIBA. Although the compound caused minor changes in heart electrical activity, it did not affect heart size or overall function, suggesting it is safe in this setting.
These findings suggest that L-BAIBA may enhance the benefits of physical activity by supporting muscle strength and bone structure, particularly in slow-twitch muscle fibers. This combination could serve as a therapeutic strategy to help older adults, including those unable to engage in regular exercise, maintain musculoskeletal health.
As the aging population grows, there is a growing need for solutions that support muscle and bone health without requiring strenuous activity. This research highlights the potential of natural, exercise-related molecules like L-BAIBA to help maintain mobility and strength throughout aging.
DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206325
Corresponding author - Michael J. Wacker — wackerm@umkc.edu
Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-zfrLUikfQ
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BUFFALO, NY — November 11, 2025 — A new #research paper was #published in Volume 17, Issue 10 of Aging-US on October 1, 2025, titled “L-β-aminoisobutyric acid (L-BAIBA) in combination with voluntary wheel running exercise enhances musculoskeletal properties in middle-age male mice.”
In this study led by first author Julian A. Vallejo and corresponding author Michael J. Wacker from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, researchers investigated how L-β-aminoisobutyric acid (L-BAIBA), a natural compound released during exercise, works together with regular physical activity to improve muscle and bone health in middle-aged male mice. The findings may support new strategies to maintain musculoskeletal health in aging populations, especially those at risk for mobility loss or osteoporosis.
Muscle and bone strength naturally decline with age, increasing the risk of falls, fractures, and reduced quality of life. While exercise remains the most effective way to counteract this deterioration, it is often difficult for older individuals to maintain sufficient activity levels to see results. L-BAIBA, a molecule naturally produced during physical activity, is known to promote energy metabolism and support muscle and bone cells. This study explored its potential to work in synergy with endurance exercise to maximize health benefits in aging bodies.
Researchers studied 12-month-old male mice that were split into different groups. Some remained sedentary, while others exercised freely on running wheels. Half of each group received daily L-BAIBA supplementation. After three months, the mice that received both the supplement and exercise showed greater improvements than those receiving either one alone. The soleus, a slow-twitch muscle essential for endurance and balance, grew larger and stronger only in the combined treatment group. These muscles also shifted to a more fatigue-resistant fiber type and had a larger number of oxidative fibers.
“To investigate this hypothesis, we subjected 12-month-old (as a model of middle-age) male C57BL6 mice to voluntary wheel running (VWR) with L-BAIBA (100mg/kg/day) (VWR+L-BAIBA), VWR alone, L-BAIBA alone, or none (CTRL) for three months.”
The study also showed significant improvements in bone health. Mice that received both exercise and L-BAIBA developed thicker and denser trabecular bone, along with reduced fat levels in the bone marrow, indicators of stronger, healthier bones. These changes were not observed in the groups that only exercised or only received L-BAIBA. Although the compound caused minor changes in heart electrical activity, it did not affect heart size or overall function, suggesting it is safe in this setting.
These findings suggest that L-BAIBA may enhance the benefits of physical activity by supporting muscle strength and bone structure, particularly in slow-twitch muscle fibers. This combination could serve as a therapeutic strategy to help older adults, including those unable to engage in regular exercise, maintain musculoskeletal health.
As the aging population grows, there is a growing need for solutions that support muscle and bone health without requiring strenuous activity. This research highlights the potential of natural, exercise-related molecules like L-BAIBA to help maintain mobility and strength throughout aging.
DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206325
Corresponding author - Michael J. Wacker — wackerm@umkc.edu
Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-zfrLUikfQ
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FGF21 Muscle Hormone Associated with Slow ALS Progression and Extended Survival
Aging-US
4 minutes 17 seconds
1 month ago
FGF21 Muscle Hormone Associated with Slow ALS Progression and Extended Survival
BUFFALO, NY — September 18, 2025 — A new #research paper was #published in Volume 17, Issue 8 of Aging-US on August 9, 2025, titled “The myokine FGF21 associates with enhanced survival in ALS and mitigates stress-induced cytotoxicity.”
In this study, led by first author Abhishek Guha and corresponding author Peter H. King from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, researchers discovered that a hormone called FGF21, which is released by muscles, is elevated in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and may play a protective role. These findings are especially relevant because ALS is a fatal and currently incurable neurodegenerative disease.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is an age-related and progressive condition that affects the nerve cells responsible for muscle control. While some treatments can slow the disease, there is still a need to understand why ALS progresses at different rates in different individuals.
“In a prior muscle miRNA sequencing investigation, we identified altered FGF pathways in ALS muscle, leading us to investigate FGF21.”
The research team analyzed muscle biopsies, spinal cord tissue, and blood samples from ALS patients and found that FGF21 levels were significantly elevated. This increase was particularly evident in atrophied muscle fibers—those that had shrunk due to nerve loss—and in the surrounding tissue. Importantly, patients with higher plasma levels of FGF21 showed slower loss of function and longer survival, with some living more than six years after diagnosis.
Using animal models and cultured cells, the researchers demonstrated that FGF21 levels rise even in the early, symptom-free stages of ALS. The hormone appeared to protect both muscle and motor neurons from stress-related damage. When added to stressed cells, FGF21 improved cell survival and reduced markers of cell death. In human muscle cells, FGF21 also supported the formation of new muscle fibers, a process known as myogenesis.
Blood tests revealed that patients with higher levels of FGF21 not only experienced slower disease progression but also tended to have a higher body mass index (BMI), a factor previously associated with longer survival in ALS. This suggests that FGF21 may reflect a patient’s ability to counteract ALS through natural protective mechanisms. It could also serve as a biomarker to monitor disease severity and potentially guide treatment decisions.
The study also investigated how FGF21 communicates with cells. It found that the hormone’s activity depends on a protein called β-Klotho, which was also altered in ALS-affected tissues. These changes were especially noticeable in motor neurons and muscle cells under stress, further highlighting FGF21’s role in the body’s response to damage.
While the study does not show that FGF21 can be used as a treatment, it highlights the hormone as a promising target for future research, clinical trials, and strategies to slow ALS progression by leveraging the body’s natural protective systems.
DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206298
Corresponding author - Peter H. King - phking@uabmc.edu
Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEGMxQrxZxE
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Keywords - aging, fibroblast growth factor, 21 β-Klotho, ALS biomarker, human skeletal muscle, motor neurons
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Aging-US
BUFFALO, NY — November 11, 2025 — A new #research paper was #published in Volume 17, Issue 10 of Aging-US on October 1, 2025, titled “L-β-aminoisobutyric acid (L-BAIBA) in combination with voluntary wheel running exercise enhances musculoskeletal properties in middle-age male mice.”
In this study led by first author Julian A. Vallejo and corresponding author Michael J. Wacker from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, researchers investigated how L-β-aminoisobutyric acid (L-BAIBA), a natural compound released during exercise, works together with regular physical activity to improve muscle and bone health in middle-aged male mice. The findings may support new strategies to maintain musculoskeletal health in aging populations, especially those at risk for mobility loss or osteoporosis.
Muscle and bone strength naturally decline with age, increasing the risk of falls, fractures, and reduced quality of life. While exercise remains the most effective way to counteract this deterioration, it is often difficult for older individuals to maintain sufficient activity levels to see results. L-BAIBA, a molecule naturally produced during physical activity, is known to promote energy metabolism and support muscle and bone cells. This study explored its potential to work in synergy with endurance exercise to maximize health benefits in aging bodies.
Researchers studied 12-month-old male mice that were split into different groups. Some remained sedentary, while others exercised freely on running wheels. Half of each group received daily L-BAIBA supplementation. After three months, the mice that received both the supplement and exercise showed greater improvements than those receiving either one alone. The soleus, a slow-twitch muscle essential for endurance and balance, grew larger and stronger only in the combined treatment group. These muscles also shifted to a more fatigue-resistant fiber type and had a larger number of oxidative fibers.
“To investigate this hypothesis, we subjected 12-month-old (as a model of middle-age) male C57BL6 mice to voluntary wheel running (VWR) with L-BAIBA (100mg/kg/day) (VWR+L-BAIBA), VWR alone, L-BAIBA alone, or none (CTRL) for three months.”
The study also showed significant improvements in bone health. Mice that received both exercise and L-BAIBA developed thicker and denser trabecular bone, along with reduced fat levels in the bone marrow, indicators of stronger, healthier bones. These changes were not observed in the groups that only exercised or only received L-BAIBA. Although the compound caused minor changes in heart electrical activity, it did not affect heart size or overall function, suggesting it is safe in this setting.
These findings suggest that L-BAIBA may enhance the benefits of physical activity by supporting muscle strength and bone structure, particularly in slow-twitch muscle fibers. This combination could serve as a therapeutic strategy to help older adults, including those unable to engage in regular exercise, maintain musculoskeletal health.
As the aging population grows, there is a growing need for solutions that support muscle and bone health without requiring strenuous activity. This research highlights the potential of natural, exercise-related molecules like L-BAIBA to help maintain mobility and strength throughout aging.
DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206325
Corresponding author - Michael J. Wacker — wackerm@umkc.edu
Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-zfrLUikfQ
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