Association between dietary nutrient intake and sarcopenia in older adults

Introduction: There is increasing interest in modifiable factors that may be effective in both the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. Although there is a growing evidence of the importance of nutrition in the treatment of sarcopenia, studies examining the relationship between nutrient intake and sarcopenia in older adults are limited. The aim of this study was to examine the association between nutrient intake and sarcopenia in older adults. Methods: The case-control observational study included 115 older adults (≥ 65 years), 26 of whom were classified as sarcopenic. Sarcopenia was assessed according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) diagnostic criteria. Habitual dietary intake was assessed with the 3-day weighed dietary record over two weekdays and one weekend day. The weight of food intake in grams was converted into energy, macronutrient and micronutrient amounts using the online OPEN (Open Platform for Clinical Nutrition) dietary assessment tool. The mini nutritional assessment (MNA) was used to assess the nutritional status. Differences in nutrient intake and nutritional status between the sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic groups were evaluated. Risk factors were determined using logistic regression with sarcopenic status as the outcome. Results: Seven nutrients (n-3 fatty acid, vitamin D, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B7, and vitamin B9) were all statistically significantly lower in the sarcopenic compared to the non-sarcopenic group (p < .05). An increased risk of sarcopenia (R2 = .756) was found in older adults with low dietary intakes of n-3 fatty acids. After accounting for possible covariates, the evidence for an association between n-3 fatty acid and sarcopenia is partially explained by age, body mass index, presence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and physical activity level. Discussion and conclusions: Sarcopenic older adults differed in terms of intake of seven nutrients compared with non-sarcopenic older adults. Adequate intake in some of these nutrients have been repeatedly shown to be valuable in preserving muscle mass and protecting against normal decline in the elderly, both in randomized controlled trials and in cohort analyses. Given that nutrition may influence the development of sarcopenia, nutrition intervention may represent a feasible measure for preventing or postponing age-related decline in muscle mass and function.