Flaxseed and wheat oligopeptide mixed powder with function of improving sarcopenia

Abstract

The invention discloses flaxseed and wheat oligopeptide mixed powder with an effect of improving sarcopenia, and belongs to the field of biological medicines. The invention relates to a composition with an effect of improving sarcopenia. The composition comprises active ingredients including wheat oligopeptide and flaxseed meal, wherein the flaxseed powder contains secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, and a mixture of small molecules with the molecular weight smaller than 1000 Da in the wheat oligopeptide accounts for 90% or above. The invention discloses a differentiated molecular path on which the two components play roles, the wheat oligopeptide has outstanding effects in the aspects of remarkably activating a PI3K / Akt pathway and promoting FOXO3a phosphorylation inactivation, the mechanism complementarity of'upstream regulation 'and'downstream blocking' lays a solid theoretical foundation for realizing a more comprehensive anti-atrophy effect through combined use, and the wheat oligopeptide has a good application prospect. And a composite scheme with a fuzzy mechanism in the prior art is exceeded. In addition, the formula disclosed by the invention can also improve the in-vivo environment which is not beneficial to muscle maintenance from the source by relieving chronic inflammation and oxidative stress.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of biomedicine, specifically to a flaxseed and wheat oligopeptide blend powder that has the effect of improving sarcopenia. Background Technology

[0002] Sarcopenia, a disease closely related to age, is characterized by a progressive decline in skeletal muscle mass and function. It severely impacts the quality of life and independent living ability of older adults, and increases the risk of falls, disability, and death. Currently, there are no specific drugs or treatments for sarcopenia in clinical practice. Existing interventions mainly include nutritional intervention, exercise training, and drug therapy. Among these, nutritional intervention, as a fundamental and important management strategy, usually focuses on supplementing single nutrients, such as protein, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids. These single nutrients have shown some potential role in maintaining muscle mass and improving muscle function in clinical research and practice, but their effects are often limited. In recent years, with the deepening research into the mechanisms of sarcopenia, multinutrients, natural plant extracts, and nutritional supplements have received increasing attention. These substances are usually rich in multiple nutrients and possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic regulating functions. They are also characterized by wide availability, relatively low cost, and high safety, and are considered to have good application prospects in the prevention and adjunctive management of sarcopenia. However, research on the synergistic intervention of multiple active ingredients in sarcopenia is still relatively lacking, especially the systematic evaluation and mechanism of action of specific compositions in improving muscle anabolism, inhibiting muscle degradation and regulating related signaling pathways are still unclear.

[0003] Current mainstream nutritional intervention strategies mostly focus on supplementing single nutrients (such as whey protein and vitamin D). The development of sarcopenia involves a complex interaction of multiple pathophysiological mechanisms, including imbalances in protein synthesis and breakdown, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and hormonal changes. Single nutritional supplements often target only one or a few of these mechanisms, making it difficult to achieve systematic, multi-target comprehensive regulation of sarcopenia, resulting in insignificant and unstable intervention effects. Although natural products rich in various active ingredients (such as plant extracts) have attracted attention, existing research mainly focuses on evaluating the efficacy of single plant components. In-depth and systematic research is still lacking on how to scientifically combine natural active ingredients from different sources with complementary mechanisms of action to produce a synergistic effect of "1+1>2". Specifically, existing technologies do not disclose or suggest the combined use of wheat oligopeptides (a high-quality small-molecule protein source, easily absorbed) and flaxseed powder (rich in alpha-linolenic acid, dietary fiber, and lignans, possessing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties). Furthermore, there is no evidence that this specific combination can produce a significant effect superior to single ingredients or other combinations in preventing or improving sarcopenia through multi-pathway synergistic effects. Moreover, the mechanisms of action of existing compound nutritional strategies are unclear and lack specificity. Some intervention programs have issues with cost, adherence, or potential risks. Some protein supplements are expensive or derived from common allergens (such as milk and soy); some synthetic drugs or high-dose supplements may have side effects or long-term safety risks. Therefore, developing a low-cost, safe, and readily available natural food-based intervention program suitable for long-term consumption is of significant practical importance. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention proposes a flaxseed and wheat oligopeptide blend powder that can improve sarcopenia.

[0005] The objective of this invention can be achieved through the following technical solutions: A first aspect of the present invention relates to a composition having an effect on improving sarcopenia, the composition comprising the active ingredients wheat oligopeptides and flaxseed powder; wherein the flaxseed powder contains linolenic acid, and the small molecule mixture with a molecular weight of less than 1000 Da in the wheat oligopeptides accounts for more than 90%.

[0006] Optionally, the weight ratio of the wheat oligopeptide to the flaxseed powder is 1:3 to 1:8.

[0007] Optionally, the flaxseed powder contains - Linolenic acid, linolenic acid lignans and dietary fiber.

[0008] Optionally, the flaxseed powder is a whole powder or defatted powder obtained by grinding flaxseeds.

[0009] Optionally, the composition is a powder, granules, or tablet.

[0010] A second aspect of the invention relates to the use of the above-described composition having the effect of improving sarcopenia in the preparation of products for the prevention, relief or treatment of sarcopenia.

[0011] Optionally, the product is a medicine, health food, or functional food.

[0012] Optionally, the sarcopenia includes age-related sarcopenia, oxidative stress-induced muscle atrophy, or chronic inflammation-mediated muscle mass loss.

[0013] Optionally, the prevention, relief, or treatment of sarcopenia includes: Increase the mass of the soleus muscle; In addition, it improves intestinal barrier function and reduces serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein levels to alleviate systemic inflammation.

[0014] Optionally, the prevention, relief, or treatment of sarcopenia includes: Reduce levels of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in skeletal muscle; In addition, it regulates synthesis and degradation pathways: it activates the PI3K / Akt / FOXO3a signaling pathway to promote protein synthesis, while downregulating the expression of Atrogin-1 and / or MuRF1 to inhibit protein degradation.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are: Compared with the prior art, the compositions of the present invention (including wheat oligopeptides, flaxseed powder, and combinations thereof) exhibit the following significant advantages and beneficial effects: 1. It has a clear effect on improving muscle mass and function. In animal models, this invention demonstrates that both wheat oligopeptides (WO) and flaxseed meal (FP), used alone, reversed the model-induced skeletal muscle mass decline to varying degrees and significantly improved muscle function indicators. This directly overcomes the drawback of unstable effects of existing single-nutrient interventions and provides two empirically proven and effective natural candidate ingredients.

[0016] 2. Synergistically combating muscle atrophy through complementary molecular mechanisms. The profound contribution of this invention lies in elucidating the differentiated molecular pathways through which the two components exert their effects. Experimental data show that wheat oligopeptides are remarkably effective in significantly activating the PI3K / Akt pathway and promoting the phosphorylation and inactivation of FOXO3a, thereby inhibiting the initiation of protein degradation signals from upstream. Flaxseed powder, on the other hand, demonstrates excellent performance in directly and significantly downregulating the gene expression of the key atrophy markers Atrogin-1 and MuRF1, more directly blocking the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation pathway. This complementary mechanism of "upstream regulation" and "downstream blocking" lays a solid theoretical foundation for achieving a more comprehensive anti-atrophy effect through combined use, surpassing the mechanistically ambiguous composite solutions in existing technologies.

[0017] 3. Effectively improves the pathological microenvironment of muscle atrophy. This invention demonstrates that the composition can significantly reduce elevated serum inflammatory factors (such as TNF-α and IL-6) levels in aging organisms, and increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes (such as SOD and GSH-Px) in skeletal muscle, while reducing lipid peroxidation products (MDA). By alleviating chronic inflammation and oxidative stress—two key drivers of increased muscle protein catabolism—this invention fundamentally improves the internal environment unfavorable to muscle maintenance, offering a comprehensive regulatory advantage not provided by single protein supplementation.

[0018] 4. Provides security solutions with greater application potential. The core ingredients selected for this invention are food-grade raw materials (wheat oligopeptides and flaxseed powder), which are highly safe, well-accepted by consumers, and significantly cheaper than many specialty proteins or synthetic drugs. This solves the problems of high cost or potential allergenic risks associated with some existing solutions, making long-term, widespread dietary or nutritional interventions possible and showing promising prospects for translational applications. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] Figure 1 The change in body weight of mice in each group during the intervention period of this application; Figure 2 This application investigates the effects of D-galactose (hereinafter referred to as D-gal)-induced aging and nutritional intervention on muscle function in mice; A) grip strength of mice in each group; (B) rotarod time of mice in each group; all data are expressed as follows: This indicates that n=12; different letters in the same series represent statistically significant differences between different groups (p<0.05).

[0021] Figure 3The effects of D-gal-induced aging and nutritional intervention on mouse muscle mass in this application are as follows: A) Triceps muscle mass of each group of mice; B) Gastrocnemius muscle mass of each group of mice; C) Soleus muscle mass of each group of mice; D) Triceps muscle percentage of each group of mice; E) Gastrocnemius muscle percentage of each group of mice; F) Soleus muscle percentage of each group of mice. All data are expressed as follows: This indicates that n=12; different letters in the same series represent statistically significant differences between different groups (p<0.05).

[0022] Figure 4 The following are the serum inflammatory factor indicators of mice in each group after the intervention period of this application: (A) serum LBP level in each group of mice; (B) serum TNF-α level in each group of mice; (C) serum IL-6 level in each group of mice; all data are expressed as follows: This indicates that n=12; different letters in the same series represent statistically significant differences between different groups (p<0.05).

[0023] Figure 5 The following are the oxidative stress indicators of skeletal muscle in mice after the intervention period of this application: (A) SOD level in mouse skeletal muscle; (B) GSH-PX level in mouse skeletal muscle; (C) MDA level in mouse skeletal muscle; all data are expressed as follows: This indicates that n=12; different letters in the same series represent statistically significant differences between different groups (p<0.05).

[0024] Figure 6 This application describes the effects of D-gal-induced aging and nutritional intervention on skeletal muscle morphology; (A) pathological images of mouse muscles in each group; (B) cross-sectional area of ​​mouse muscle fibers in each group; (C) area frequency distribution curves of mouse muscle fibers in each group; all data are expressed as follows: This indicates that n=12; different letters in the same series represent statistically significant differences between different groups (p<0.05).

[0025] Figure 7 This application investigates the effects of D-gal-induced aging and nutritional intervention on the expression of the PI3K / AKT pathway and related proteins. p<0.05, p<0.01 indicates a statistically significant difference compared to the control group; #p<0.05 and ##p<0.01 indicate a statistically significant difference compared to the model group.

[0026] Figure 8 This is a high-performance liquid chromatography chromatogram of wheat oligopeptides used in the embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] 1. Materials and Methods 1.1 Test Samples 1.1.2 Average molecular weight distribution and amino acid composition of wheat oligopeptides In this embodiment, the wheat oligopeptide is mainly a mixture of small molecules with a molecular weight of less than 1000 Da, accounting for 92.32%.

[0029] Table 1. Molecular weight distribution of wheat oligopeptides in two batches The amino acid composition and characteristic amino acids of wheat oligopeptides are shown in Table 2 below.

[0030] Table 2. Amino acid composition of wheat oligopeptides This data was provided by the China National Research Institute of Food Fermentation Industries.

[0031] 1.1.3 Description of Flaxseed Powder Samples This flaxseed powder uses Songnengjian Pure Flaxseed Micronized Powder produced by Sinopharm Tianmu Lake Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. It is rich in various functional nutrients, such as α-linolenic acid (an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid), linolenic acid lignans, flaxseed protein, cellulose, and linolenic acid gum. After flaxseed is ground into micronized powder, the cell walls are broken, allowing for the full release of oils, lignans, and nutrients, significantly improving bioavailability. This flaxseed micronized powder uses low-temperature encapsulation technology, which preserves the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and active ingredients, resulting in a richer and more flavorful taste.

[0032] 1.2 Reagents and Consumables 1.3 Instruments and Equipment 1.4 Setting the Mixing Powder Ratio: The intervention doses of wheat oligopeptide (WO) and flaxseed powder (FP) were determined based on the recommended intake for humans, taking into account previous experiments and existing literature. The gavage dose for the WO group was 560 mg / kg / day. This dose was mainly based on the 400 mg / kg / day dose in the experiment on naturally aging rats in the existing technical literature (PAN D, YANG L, YANG X, et al. Potential nutritional strategies to prevent and reverse sarcopenia in aging process: Role of fish oil-derived ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, wheat oligopeptide and their combined intervention [J]. J Adv Res, 2024, 57: 77-91.) and was obtained by converting the equivalent dose based on body surface area to mice. The gavage dose for the FP group was 3000 mg / kg / day. This dose was obtained by converting the equivalent dose based on body surface area to mice, referring to a randomized controlled trial for adults (15 g / day). To explore the synergistic effect, the gavage dose for the WF group was a combination of WO at 560 mg / kg / day and FP at 3000 mg / kg / day.

[0033] 1.5 Experimental animals The experiment used 8-week-old SPF-grade C57 / BL6j male mice, weighing 20 g, purchased from Spf (Suzhou) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. The mice were housed in the animal room on the fifth floor of the School of Public Health, Southeast University. The use license number was: SYXK (Su) 2021-0022. The temperature in the animal room was 20°C - 26°C, and the relative humidity was 40% - 60%. There was a 12-hour light-dark cycle every day. During the experiment, the mice had free access to water and were fed a basal maintenance diet, purchased from Jiangsu Xietong Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Co., Ltd. In this embodiment, each experimental protocol was approved by the Animal Experiment Ethics Review Committee of Southeast University, approval number: SEU-IACUC-20251106001.

[0034] 1.6 Test methods 1.6.1 Construction of D-gal-induced accelerated aging model After one week of acclimatization, mice were randomly divided into five groups based on body weight: a blank control group (CON group), a D-gal model group (MOD group), a wheat oligopeptide intervention group (WO group), a flaxseed meal intervention group (FP group), and a combined intervention group (WF group), with 12 mice per group. All mice were fed a growth maintenance diet. Except for the blank control group, each group of mice received a subcutaneous injection of 200 mg / kg of D-gal once daily, while the control group mice received the same volume of 0.9% saline.

[0035] 1.6.2 Mouse intervention methods One week after D-gal injection, mice underwent nutritional intervention. The dosages of wheat oligopeptides and flaxseed powder were primarily based on human recommendations and previous experiments and literature reviews. The WO group was administered 560 mg / kg by gavage, the FP group by gavage by gavage by gavage by gavage by gavage by gavage by gavage by gavage by gavage by gavage by gavage by gavage by gavage by gavage of 560 mg / kg WO + 3000 mg / kg FP. The other two groups were administered the same volume of distilled water by gavage. This treatment continued for 7 weeks. The experimental period was 8 weeks. Body weight was measured weekly, bedding was changed every two days, and drinking water was changed 3-4 times per week.

[0036] 1.6.3 Anatomical sampling Eight weeks after intervention, mice in each group were fasted but allowed free access to water for 12 hours. Blood was collected through the orbital cavity after anesthesia and allowed to stand at room temperature for 1 hour. The blood was then centrifuged (4℃, 3000r / min, 10min), and the supernatant serum was collected and stored at -80℃.

[0037] Mice were euthanized by cervical dislocation after blood collection. Immediately afterward, the heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, thymus, perirenal fat, peritesticular fat, bilateral soleus muscles, tibialis anterior muscles, gastrocnemius muscles, and triceps brachii muscles were dissected. One gastrocnemius muscle from each group of mice was fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde solution for subsequent pathological examination.

[0038] 1.6.4 Observation Indicators and Detection Methods 1.6.4.1 Basic Physiological Indicators During the experiment, the mice's mental state, behavior, and coat color were observed daily for any abnormalities, and their weight was recorded weekly.

[0039] 1.6.4.2 Forelimb grip strength Two days before the end of the experiment, the gripping force was measured using a gripping force meter (Shanghai Xinruan, China). Mice were placed on the sensor net of the gripping force meter, their tails were lifted upwards so that only their forelimbs were in contact with the sensor net, and they were dragged horizontally until they left the gripping force meter. The instrument automatically recorded the maximum gripping force, and the measurement was repeated five times for each mouse.

[0040] 1.6.4.3 Muscle Endurance Fall time was measured using a rotundus fatigue meter (Shanghai Xinruan, China) the day before the experiment ended. Mice were trained for 3 days prior to testing; during the acclimatization period, they were placed on a rotundus with an initial speed of 6 m / min for 5 minutes each day. One day before the experiment ended, mice were placed on a rotundus with an initial speed of 15 rpm and a final speed of 40 rpm, with an acceleration time of 120 seconds for a total of 5 minutes, until fatigue and a fall. The time spent on the rotundus was recorded. Each mouse was tested 3 times, with a rest period of at least 30 minutes between each test.

[0041] 1.6.4.4 Serum component analysis Serum levels of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), tumor growth factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected using an ELISA kit. All indicators were measured according to the kit instructions.

[0042] 1.6.4.5 Skeletal muscle component analysis The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in skeletal muscle were detected using a biochemical reagent kit. All indicators were measured according to the kit instructions.

[0043] 1.6.4.6 Organ Index Dissect the mouse and remove the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. After rinsing with physiological saline, blotting dry with filter paper, and weighing, the organ index is calculated using the following formula: 1.6.4.7 Pathological index detection The mouse was dissected, and one gastrocnemius muscle was removed and fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde solution. The specimen was then embedded in paraffin to prepare routine pathological sections, stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE), and observed under an optical microscope for histological changes. Slides were taken using a NanZoomer® S360 imaging system.

[0044] 1.6.5 Statistical Analysis Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 27.0, SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). All data are expressed as follows: (Normal distribution) or Median (P) 25 P 75 (Non-normal distribution). One-way ANOVA was used to compare differences between groups, and Duncan's method (homogeneous variances) or Dunnett's T-method (unequal variances) was used for post-hoc multiple comparisons. IBM SPSS Statistics 27.0 was used for statistical analysis. p <0.05 is considered statistically significant.

[0045] 2. Results Analysis 2.1 Changes in body weight of mice in each group From Table 3 and Figure 1 It can be seen that, before the experiment began, there was no significant difference in body weight among the groups of mice. p >0.05). During the intervention period, the weight of all groups showed an increasing trend. Starting from week 6, the weight gain of the model group began to lag significantly behind that of the control group ( p <0.05), and continued until the end of the experiment. Compared with the MOD group, nutritional intervention could promote the recovery of body weight in D-gal-induced model mice, but the difference was not statistically significant ( p >0.05).

[0046] Table 3. Changes in body weight of mice in each group during the intervention period. Note: All data are in [context missing]. This indicates that n=12; different letters within the same series represent statistically significant differences between different groups. p <0.05).

[0047] 2.2 Muscle function in each group of mice From Table 4 and Figure 2 The behavioral experiment results showed that, compared with the CON group, the forelimb grip strength and rotarod time of the model group mice were significantly reduced. (p <0.05). Compared with the MOD group, all nutritional interventions significantly improved the grip strength of mice ( p <0.05); only FP significantly restored rotarod time in mice to the level of normal mice ( p <0.05).

[0048] Table 4. Grip strength of mice in each group Note: All data are in [context missing]. This indicates that n=12; different letters within the same series represent statistically significant differences between different groups. p <0.05).

[0049] 2.3 Muscle weight of mice in each group From Table 5 and Figure 3 It can be seen that, compared with the CON group, D-gal led to a significant decrease in the mass of the triceps brachii, gastrocnemius, and soleus muscles in the model group mice. p <0.05%. Different interventions showed varying recovery effects on the aforementioned muscle atrophy. Compared to the MOD group, both FP and WF significantly increased the muscle mass and muscle percentage of the triceps and gastrocnemius muscles to normal mouse levels. p<0.05); WO and FP can significantly increase the muscle mass of the soleus muscle ( p <0.05).

[0050] Table 5. Muscle mass of mice in each group Note: All data are in [context missing]. This indicates that n=12; different letters within the same series represent statistically significant differences between different groups. p <0.05).

[0051] 2.4 Serum inflammatory markers in each group of mice From Table 6 and Figure 4 It can be seen that, compared with the CON group, the serum levels of LBP, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the MOD group mice were significantly increased. p <0.05%, indicating that D-gal injection induced a systemic inflammatory response in mice. Compared with the MOD group, all three nutritional interventions significantly reduced the levels of the three inflammatory mediators ( p The value <0.05 indicates that nutritional intervention can improve the inflammatory response in model mice to some extent.

[0052] Table 6 Serum inflammatory factor indices in mice after intervention Note: All data are in [context missing]. This indicates that n=12; different letters within the same series represent statistically significant differences between different groups. p <0.05).

[0053] 2.5 Oxidative stress indices in skeletal muscle of mice in each group From Table 7 and Figure 5 It was found that, compared with the CON group, the MOD group mice showed significantly lower levels of SOD and GSH-PX in skeletal muscle (p<0.05) and significantly higher levels of MDA (p<0.05), indicating that D-gal caused oxidative stress imbalance in the skeletal muscle of the model group mice. Compared with the MOD group, all nutritional intervention groups showed significantly increased levels of SOD and GSH-PX. p <0.05), both WO and FP can significantly reduce MDA levels ( p <0.05).

[0054] Table 7. Oxidative stress indices of skeletal muscle in mice after intervention. Note: All data are in [context missing]. This indicates that n=12; different letters within the same series represent statistically significant differences between different groups. p<0.05).

[0055] 2.6 Pathological analysis results of skeletal muscle in each group of mice From Table 8 and Figure 6 It can be seen that, compared with the CON group, the cross-sectional area of ​​muscle fibers in the MOD group mice was significantly reduced. p <0.05. Compared with the MOD group, all nutritional interventions significantly restored the cross-sectional area of ​​muscle fibers in the model mice ( p <0.05). By Figure 6 As shown in Figure C, the frequency distribution curve of the CON group exhibits a symmetrical normal distribution, with a peak at approximately 2500 μm², and mainly distributed in the 1500-3000 μm² range, indicating that the muscle fibers of healthy mice are uniform in size and have normal structure. In contrast, the curve of the MOD group shifts significantly to the left, with a peak at approximately 1500 μm², and mainly distributed in the 1000-2500 μm² range. Large-area fibers (>3500 μm²) have essentially disappeared, and the right-side tailing phenomenon is almost invisible. In the intervention groups, the distribution curves of all three groups show an overall rightward shift and broadening compared to the MOD group, with a peak at approximately 2000-2500 μm², mainly distributed in the 1500-2500 μm² range, and a right-side tailing phenomenon appears, showing a trend of recovery towards the CON group in terms of distribution morphology.

[0056] Table 8 Cross-sectional area of ​​muscle fibers in mice after intervention Note: All data are in [context missing]. This indicates that n=12; different letters within the same series represent statistically significant differences between different groups. p <0.05).

[0057] 2.7 Nutritional intervention inhibits protein degradation by modulating the PI3K / AKT pathway To investigate the effects of WO, FP, and WF interventions on D-gal-induced muscle atrophy, this study evaluated key indicators of protein metabolism in skeletal muscle and their upstream regulatory pathways. First, this study analyzed relevant biomarkers of muscle protein degradation pathways. Compared to the CON group, the protein expression levels of two key E3 ubiquitin ligases—Atrogin-1 and MuRF1—were significantly increased in the MOD group. p <0.05. Compared with the MOD group, FP significantly reduced the expression of Atrogin-1 in model mice ( p <0.05); FP and WF significantly reduced MuRF1 expression in model mice ( p <0.05); the remaining intervention groups also showed a decreasing trend, but the differences were not statistically significant. To elucidate the potential mechanism of the above effects, this embodiment further investigated the PI3K / AKT signaling pathway. Figure 6As shown, compared with the CON group, D-gal modeling significantly reduced the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and AKT ( p <0.05). Compared with the MOD group, each nutritional intervention effectively reversed this inhibitory state: WO significantly increased the phosphorylation level of PI3K, WO and WF significantly increased the phosphorylation level of AKT, and WO and FP interventions significantly increased the phosphorylation level of FOXO3a (all). p <0.05), the remaining intervention groups all showed a positive trend of increased PI3K, AKT and FOXO3a phosphorylation levels, but the differences were not statistically significant. Regarding muscle regeneration and synthesis, the expression of the key myogenic regulatory factor MyoD was detected in this study. Compared with the MOD group, the MyoD protein level in WO was significantly increased ( p (<0.05), other intervention groups also showed an increasing trend, but the differences were not significant. However, the results of this embodiment show that in the MOD group, the phosphorylation level of mTOR was not inhibited, but instead showed a compensatory increasing trend.

[0058] In summary, this invention provides a composition based on natural food ingredients for the prevention or improvement of sarcopenia and its application. Its core lies in the first-ever proposal and validation of a combined intervention strategy using wheat oligopeptides and flaxseed powder. This invention not only confirms that the two components exert protective effects against sarcopenia through different dominant mechanisms (wheat oligopeptides focus on activating the upstream PI3K / Akt signaling pathway to inhibit protein degradation, while flaxseed powder focuses on directly inhibiting downstream E3 ubiquitin ligase expression and specifically protecting slow-twitch muscle fibers), but more importantly, by combining the two, it provides a comprehensive solution that can simultaneously and multi-target intervene in key pathological aspects of sarcopenia (including imbalances in protein synthesis and degradation, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress). This solution uses safe and inexpensive raw materials, providing a novel approach and solid experimental evidence for the development of effective nutritional intervention products for sarcopenia.

[0059] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "an embodiment," "example," "specific example," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0060] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claimed invention.

Claims

1. A composition having an effect of improving sarcopenia, characterized in that, The composition comprises the active ingredients wheat oligopeptides and flaxseed powder; wherein the flaxseed powder contains linolenic acid, and the small molecule mixture with a molecular weight of less than 1000 Da in the wheat oligopeptides accounts for more than 90%.

2. The composition according to claim 1 that has an effect on improving sarcopenia, characterized in that, The weight ratio of the wheat oligopeptide to the flaxseed powder is 1:3 to 1:

8.

3. The composition according to claim 1 that has an effect on improving sarcopenia, characterized in that, The flaxseed powder contains - Linolenic acid, linolenic acid lignans and dietary fiber.

4. The composition according to claim 1 that has an effect on improving sarcopenia, characterized in that, The flaxseed powder is a whole powder or defatted powder made by grinding flaxseeds.

5. The composition according to any one of claims 1-4 that has an effect of improving sarcopenia, characterized in that, The composition is a powder, granules, or tablet.

6. Use of the composition according to any one of claims 1-5, which has the effect of improving sarcopenia, in the preparation of products for the prevention, relief or treatment of sarcopenia.

7. The use of the composition according to claim 6, which has the effect of improving sarcopenia, in the preparation of products for the prevention, relief, or treatment of sarcopenia, characterized in that, The product is a drug, health food, or functional food.

8. The use of the composition according to claim 6, which has the effect of improving sarcopenia, in the preparation of products for the prevention, relief, or treatment of sarcopenia, characterized in that, The sarcopenia includes age-related sarcopenia, oxidative stress-induced muscle atrophy, or chronic inflammation-mediated muscle loss.

9. The use of the composition according to claim 6, which has the effect of improving sarcopenia, in the preparation of products for the prevention, relief, or treatment of sarcopenia, characterized in that, The prevention, relief, or treatment of sarcopenia includes: Increase the mass of the soleus muscle; In addition, it improves intestinal barrier function and reduces serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein levels to alleviate systemic inflammation.

10. The use of the composition according to claim 6, which has the effect of improving sarcopenia, in the preparation of products for the prevention, relief, or treatment of sarcopenia, characterized in that, The prevention, relief, or treatment of sarcopenia includes: Reduce levels of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in skeletal muscle; In addition, it regulates synthesis and degradation pathways: it activates the PI3K / Akt / FOXO3a signaling pathway to promote protein synthesis, while downregulating the expression of Atrogin-1 and / or MuRF1 to inhibit protein degradation.

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