LAUSR

Sarcopenia is a condition of age-related loss of muscle mass and strength which affects balance, gait and overall ability to perform tasks of daily living, with increased risk of falls. While mitochondrial dysfunction and associated oxidative stress contribute to muscle ageing, the interplay between ROS and protective antioxidant response in the cell is regarded as a key factor in maintaining muscle strength and physical performance. CoQ10 is a lypophilic endogenous cofactor with both antioxidant and bioenergetics function whose levels decrease with age. Moreover also lipid-lowering drugs targeting HMG-CoA reductase (statin) are able to effect CoQ10 synthesis. In the present study we show that murine myocytes (C2C12) exposed to simvastatin 0.3-40 μM for 72 h show a reduced content of CoQ associated with increased ROS production and cytotoxicity. Moreover exposure in the same conditions of primary human myocytes from young and old donors show an enhanced susceptibility to oxidative stress in the elderly a condition that might suggest an enhanced detrimental side effects of statins with potential implications in sarcopenia development.