Resveratrol, aging, and fatigue

Muscle fatigue is defined as any decline in muscle performance associated with its activity. Fatigue is triggered by several factors as Ca2 + metabolism, blood flow, oxygen supply, and metabolic-energetic alterations that are strictly correlated with prooxidant/antioxidant equilibrium of the cell. During aging the skeletal muscle undergoes an important mass reduction, alteration of oxidative defense, mitochondrial function, sensitivity to insulin, and inflammatory response, accompanied by the gradual decline in its functions, resulting in the complex syndrome named sarcopenia. Resveratrol is a small polyphenol found in grapevine skin, peanuts, and in some berries known for its antioxidant properties and recently suggested as a potential agent to combat sarcopenia. Resveratrol displays several properties that have been suggested as responsible of the amelioration of the age-related muscular functional decline. Here, we report data and suggested mechanisms on resveratrol capability to modulate the decline of the resistance to fatigue in the aging muscle.