This same mechanism also operates in adult tissues, which means it would be part of the response to a diet with reduced calorie intake. The researchers also found that both glucose restriction or treatment of skeletal muscle cells with metformin (a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes) had similar outcomes and activated SIRT1.
"It is therefore possible that the well-known benefits that diabetics derive from lowering the calorie intake in their diet may be attributable to activation of the AMPK-Nampt-SIRT1 axis," Sartorelli said.
He added that AMPK and SIRT1 may prove good targets for treatment of muscle-wasting.
More information
The U.S. National Institutes of Health has more about stem cells.
