Gallic Acid Improves Muscular Function Through Enhanced Myoblast Myogenesis in Mice

Abstract

Skeletal muscle health is crucial for maintaining physical function and metabolic homeostasis. This study investigated the effects of gallic acid, a naturally occurring phenolic compound, on myogenesis and muscle function. In vitro experiments using mouse primary myoblasts demonstrated that gallic acid (10 μg/mL) enhanced myogenic differentiation, evidenced by increased Myh3 protein expression (3.3-fold under growth conditions and 1.3-fold under differentiation conditions) and enhanced myotube formation in both conditions. In vivo studies were conducted using C57BL/6N mice fed either a control diet or a 0.2% gallic acid-supplemented diet for 8 weeks. While gallic acid supplementation did not affect body weight, food intake, or general metabolic parameters, it significantly increased soleus muscle mass (10.56 ± 1.35 mg vs. 8.28 ± 0.68 mg in controls). Furthermore, gallic acid-fed mice showed improved muscle function, with increased running distance (345.0 ± 28.8 m vs. 262.2 ± 58.6 m), extended time to exhaustion (24.2 ± 1.2 min vs. 20.1 ± 3.0 min), and enhanced grip strength (182.2 ± 19.4 N vs. 157.3 ± 11.5 N). These findings suggest that gallic acid could serve as a promising natural supplement for improving muscle function and exercise performance.