| Summary: | Skeletal muscle mass and function progressively decline with advancing age (sarcopenia), and this can result in frailty, loss of independence, representing a major cause of falls and fractures in aged populations (Aubertin-Leheudre, Lord, Khalil & Dionne, 2008; Sirola & Kroger, 2011; Maggio, Lauretani & Ceda, 2013). Exercise and antioxidant supplementation have been considered as therapeutic modalities to attenuate age associated inflammation and muscle wastage (Peterson, Rhea, Sen & Gordon, 2010; Cerrullo, Gambassi & Cesari, 2012). Despite a plethora of knowledge regarding the benefits of exercise and antioxidant supplementation in advancing age, the precise mechanisms as to how each stimulus reduces inflammation is not fully elucidated. It has been postulated however, that detailed examination of cell signalling pathways may provide further information into the biochemical and cellular changes evoking respective adaptations (Mathur & Pedersen, 2008; Pedersen & Febbraio, 2008). The principal aim of the work contained in this thesis, is to examine the effects of exercise and antioxidant supplementation on inflammation and gene expression in aged females.
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