Mitochondrial function in muscle from elderly athletes.

The extent to which mitochondria are involved in the aging process is controversial; much of the reported decline in mitochondrial oxidations in human skeletal muscle may be due to disease and inactivity rather than age. To study true aging, mitochondrial respiratory chain function was studied in 9 young and 12 elderly athletes. No significant deterioration with age was observed. If mitochondria are involved in aging, it must be through a more subtle mechanism than a global decline in respiratory chain activity.