# Sulphur compound may help protect ageing muscles, study finds 2026-08-06T11:06:14+00:00 | Health & Science | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet A team at Japan's Kyushu University, led by Professor Ryuichi Tatsumi, has identified a sulphur-based antioxidant compound, lipoic acid trisulphide, that protects hepatocyte growth factor, a protein central to repairing skeletal muscle, according to NDTV. That protein's ability to bind to muscle stem cells normally weakens with age through a chemical change called nitration, the researchers found the compound more than doubled the protein's binding ability and made it more resistant to that age-related damage, terming the strengthened form Super HGF. The findings, published in Scientific Reports on July 24, were tested in mice with muscle wasting caused by reduced movement, where treated animals showed significantly lower levels of protein damage than untreated mice. NDTV reported that further studies, including trials in older animals and eventually in humans, are still needed to confirm the compound's long-term safety and effectiveness. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The results so far come from laboratory experiments and from mice with muscle wasting caused by reduced movement, not from ageing muscle in people, so the gap between this result and a usable treatment stays wide. Professor Tatsumi said the result exceeded the team's expectations and that the compound may directly alter HGF's structure rather than simply acting as an antioxidant. NDTV reported that long term safety and effectiveness still need confirmation. Testing in older animals, the next step the researchers describe, would be the first indication of whether the effect carries over. ## Coverage - ndtv.com Tags: Kyushu University Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/sulphur-compound-may-help-protect-ageing-muscles-study-finds/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/sulphur-compound-may-help-protect-ageing-muscles-study-finds/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.