Boosting Muscle Health by Supporting Cell Energy
Official title: Improving sarcopenia by targeting mitochondria
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-11126078 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores whether a special oil in the diet can help older adults with muscle weakness improve their strength and movement.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 5, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $621,404 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG080184-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11126078 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants would be older men and women experiencing age-related muscle loss and weakness.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing sarcopenia or are outside the specified age range may not receive direct benefit from this particular intervention.
What this research studies
As we get older, many of us experience sarcopenia, which is a natural loss of muscle mass and strength. While exercise helps, we need more ways to slow down this process. This project looks at whether a specific dietary oil, rich in linoleic acid, can improve muscle strength and how easily you move. Linoleic acid is an essential nutrient that helps your cells' energy factories, called mitochondria, work better. We will measure if this oil can boost muscle function and mitochondrial health in older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a new dietary strategy to slow or stop the progression of age-related muscle loss and improve quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: While promising results have been observed in animal models, this Phase II trial is a novel human investigation into the effects of LA-rich oil on sarcopenia.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Belury, Martha a — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Belury, Martha a
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LA-rich oil to help strong muscles as we age
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.