Study Explores How An Antioxidant May Preserve Muscle Strength With Age

Researchers at Kyushu University have identified a sulphur-based antioxidant compound that could help preserve the body's natural muscle repair system, offering new hope for treating age-related muscle loss. The findings, published on July 24, 2026, in the journal Scientific Reports, suggest the compound may strengthen a key protein involved in muscle regeneration, potentially improving muscle function as people grow older.

The research team, led by Professor Ryuichi Tatsumi from Kyushu University's Faculty of Agriculture, focused on hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a protein that plays a crucial role in repairing damaged skeletal muscle. Under normal conditions, HGF remains inactive around muscle fibres but becomes activated after muscle injury or physical activity, stimulating muscle stem cells to repair and regenerate damaged tissue. However, previous studies by the researchers found that ageing causes HGF to undergo a chemical process known as nitration, reducing its ability to activate muscle stem cells and weakening the body's muscle repair capacity.

To counter this effect, the scientists tested two sulphur-based antioxidant compounds—glutathione trisulphide (GSSSG) and lipoic acid trisulphide (LASSS). Laboratory experiments revealed that while both compounds reduced harmful chemical changes to HGF, LASSS produced significantly stronger results. The compound more than doubled HGF's ability to bind to its receptor and made the protein more resistant to age-related damage. Researchers described this enhanced version as "Super HGF," highlighting its improved ability to support muscle regeneration.

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Professor Tatsumi said the results exceeded the team's expectations, noting that LASSS appears to do more than function as an antioxidant. According to the researchers, the compound may directly alter the structure of HGF, making it more effective at triggering the body's natural muscle repair mechanisms. This discovery could pave the way for therapies aimed at slowing muscle deterioration associated with ageing and prolonged inactivity.

The team also evaluated LASSS in mice experiencing muscle wasting caused by reduced movement. Treated animals showed significantly lower levels of protein damage than untreated mice, indicating that the compound's protective effects extend beyond laboratory experiments into living tissue. Although further research is required to establish its long-term safety and effectiveness in older animals and human clinical trials, the findings offer promising prospects for developing treatments for age-related muscle loss, recovery after extended bed rest and even improving mobility in ageing companion animals such as dogs and cats.

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