Increased body mass index is associated with sarcopenia and related outcomes

Oxidative balance score is independently associated with reduced prevalence of sarcopenia among US adults with metabolic syndrome

Background

This research seeks to explore the link between the oxidative balance score (OBS) and sarcopenia in American adults with Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) using data from a national, population-based survey.

Methods

The study included 3,625 participants diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome, all aged 20 years and above, derived from NHANES datasets spanning 1999-2006 and 2011-2018. OBS evaluation was based on 16 dietary and 4 lifestyle elements. MetS diagnosis followed the NCEP-ATP III guidelines, while sarcopenia identification was based on FNIH standards. We employed multivariate logistic regression analyses to delve into the connections between OBS and sarcopenia within the MetS cohort.

Results

Sarcopenia was found in 17.46% of the participants. In models adjusted for all variables, OBS, dietary OBS, and lifestyle OBS each showed a significant inverse relationship with sarcopenia among MetS individuals [OBS: OR = 0.959, 95%CI: (0.948, 0.982), P trend = 0.0005; dietary OBS: OR = 0.963, 95%CI: (0.939, 0.989), P trend = 0.0055; lifestyle OBS: OR = 0.860, 95%CI: (0.787, 0.939), P trend = 0.0011]. Higher scores in OBS were consistently linked with a decreased incidence of sarcopenia (all P for trend < 0.05). Restricted cubic spline analysis confirmed that these relationships were linear. The impact of age was significant, with OBS benefits only observed in those aged 40 and older.

Conclusions

Maintaining a diet and lifestyle rich in antioxidants is both independently and collectively linked with a lower occurrence of sarcopenia in individuals with MetS. These results bolster the proposition of developing OBS-centered preventive strategies for sarcopenia in MetS patients, particularly those aged 40 years and older.

Association between weight and body composition changes with falls risk in the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research (MELoR) study

OBJECTIVE

Both changes in body composition and increased fall risk occur with increasing age. While weight management may be considered a component of falls prevention, the long-term consequences of changes in weight, however, remain uncertain. This prospective study aimed to evaluate the relationship between weight and body composition changes over 5 years with fall occurrence.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Community-dwelling older adults interviewed at baseline (2013-2016) and follow-up (2020-2022) as a part of the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research study were included.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants who attended face-to-face follow-up visits.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Fall occurrence over 12 months preceding the follow-up visit was determined. Anthropometric, bioimpedance analysis and physical performance measurements were obtained at both time points. Participants were categorised into three groups according to changes in weight and body composition using≥5% increase or decrease in weight to determine loss or gain.

RESULTS

Of the 225 participants, aged 71.8±6.8 years, 128 (56.9%) were women. Weight gain was associated with increased fall risk at follow-up compared with stable weight (adjusted rate ratio, aRR (95% confidence interval, CI)=2.86 (1.02-8.02)) following adjustments for age and body mass index (BMI), but this relationship was attenuated by low baseline percentage lean body mass (%LBM) in women. The association was strenghtened after adjusting for age, BMI, and low muscle strength (aRR (95% CI)=2.89 (1.01-8.28)). Weight change did not influence falls risk in men. No difference was observed with changes in percentage body fat and %LBM over time with fall occurrence for both genders.

CONCLUSION

Lower baseline lean body mass influenced the relationship between weight gain and falls longitudinally. Interventions addressing low lean body mass should be considered in the prevention of weight-gain-related falls in older women.

The prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in Thai older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence and identify factors associated with sarcopenia in older Thais.

Methods

Research studies were searched in online databases, including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Thai-Journal Citation Index. The articles included in this review were limited to being published between January 1, 2013 and January 31, 2023 and observational study designs. The research quality was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool for prevalence studies. A meta-analysis was performed using the JBI SUMARI software. The review protocol has been registered on PROSPERO with the assigned ID CRD42023420514.

Results

A total of 265 research articles were initially identified, out of which 17 articles were included in this study, including a total of 4,668 participants aged 60 years and over, consisting of 1,380 (29.6%) men and 3,288 (70.4%) women. The overall prevalence of sarcopenia in Thai older adults was 20.7% (95% CI 14.4%-27.8%). Subgroup analysis of the sarcopenia prevalence based on the study areas revealed that the prevalence was 33.4% (95% CI 28.7%-38.3%) in hospitalized individuals, 23.2% (95% CI 12.5%-35.9%) in outpatient clinic settings, and 17.3% (95% CI 9.4%-26.8%) in community-living older adults. Advanced age (OR = 4.60, 95% CI 3.07-6.91), being male (OR = 2.30, 95% CI 1.37-3.85), low body mass index (BMI) (OR = 8.95, 95% CI 6.05-13.25), and malnutrition (OR = 2.78, 95% CI 2.09-3.70) are strong predictors of sarcopenia in older adults in Thailand.

Conclusions

This systematic review represents the first assessment of the overall prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in Thai older adults, indicating its significant concern within this population. These findings are of importance for public health management aimed at preventing and managing sarcopenia in the country.

Anthropometric Measures, Muscle Resistance, and Balance in Physically Active, Aged Adults

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to examine the relationship between age, body mass index, muscle strength, and balance in physically active, aged adults.

METHODS

Eighty-five participants were recruited for this study, having an average age of 70.31 years (SD = 9.90), ranging from 50 to 92 years. Twenty-six (30.6%) participants were male and fifty-nine (69.4%) were female. The participants had an average body mass index of 27.30 kg/m² (SD = 3.62), ranging from 20.32 to 38.58 kg/m². Participants undertook the Timed-Up and Go to test balance, and the chair-stand test to assess lower body strength. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted. Three models (Model 1, 2, and 3) were tested to assess their relationships with balance: M1-Lower body muscle strength; M2-Lower body muscle strength and body mass index; M3-Lower body muscle strength, body mass index, and age.

RESULTS

All hierarchical models displayed significant variance. The third model explained 50.9% of the variance in dynamic balance, [F(3, 81) = 27.94, p < 0.001, R = 0.71, R_a² = 0.51]. The difference in R_a² between the first, second, and third models was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Age, body mass index, and lower body muscle strength had significant (p < 0.05) correlations with balance. In terms of the significant impact of each predictor, age had the strongest association with balance (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results are useful to understand mechanisms or diagnose people at risk of fall.