Exploring the interrelation among sarcopenia, obesity and nutrition in older adults
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20262240Keywords:
Alzheimer’s disease, Older adults, SarcopeniaAbstract
Background: The purpose of the study was to explore the interrelation among sarcopenia, obesity, and nutrition in adults aged 60 and older, focusing on how these conditions interact, the role of nutrition in their progression. It further seeks to examine the influence of physical activity and dietary patterns on these conditions to identify potential preventive strategies.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to May 2025 on 172 older adults to examine the interrelation among sarcopenia, obesity, nutrition, physical activity, and Alzheimer’s disease. Sarcopenia, obesity, and Alzheimer's were assessed using the SARC-F, BMI, and AQ questionnaire respectively, while dietary intake was analyzed via 24-hour recall and FFQ, and physical activity was measured using the RAPA tool.
Results: Among 172 older adults, a significant association was found between BMI and sarcopenia, with all overweight and obese participants being sarcopenic. Physical activity levels were significantly linked to both BMI and sarcopenia, with the majority of inactive individuals being overweight and also sarcopenic. No significant association was observed between sarcopenia and Alzheimer’s. Regression analysis indicated protein intake positively predicted cognitive scores, while calcium and iron had negative associations. Overall, participants had low energy, calcium, and iron intake, with dietary patterns dominated by rice intake and limited consumption of nutrient-dense foods.
Conclusions: The study highlights that maintaining a healthy BMI, engaging in regular physical activity, and ensuring adequate protein intake are key to reducing the risk of sarcopenic obesity and cognitive decline.
References
Amini N, Ibn Hach M, Lapauw L, Dupont J, Vercauteren L, Verschueren S, et al. Meta-analysis on the interrelationship between sarcopenia and mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2024;15(4):1240-53.
Bagheri A, Rezvan H, Heshmat R. Patterns of nutrient intake in relation to sarcopenia and its components. Front Nutr. 2021;8:645072.
Bae S, Park S, Lee S. Sarcopenic obesity is associated with cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults: The Bunkyo Health Study. Clin Nutr. 2022;41(5):1101-7.
Bayraktar E, Tosun P, Sahin S. Relationship between sarcopenia and mortality in elderly inpatients. Eurasian J Med. 2020;52(1):29-33.
Bian D, Li X, Xiao Y, Song K, Wang L. Relationship between social support, sarcopenia, and cognitive impairment in Chinese community. J Nutr Health Aging. 2023;27:726-33.
Chang KV, Hsu TH, Wu WT, Huang KC, Han DS. Association between sarcopenia and cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2016;17(12):1164.e7-5.
Chou YY, Lin CF, Lee YS, Chen LK. The associations of osteoporosis and possible sarcopenia with disability, nutrition, and cognition in community-dwelling older adults. BMC Geriatr. 2023;23:730.
Fu Y, Li X, Wang T, Yan S, Zhang X, Hu G, et al. The prevalence and agreement of sarcopenic obesity using different definitions and its association with mild cognitive impairment. J Alzheimers Dis. 2023;94(1):1-12.
Fonseca D, Arteagea C. Food insecurity as a risk factor of sarcopenic obesity in older adults. Front Nutr. 2022;9:1040089.
Funghetto SS, Medeiros MA. Inflammatory parameters in elderly women with and without sarcopenic obesity. Multidiscip Sci J. 2020;3(3):23-8.
Ganapathy A, Nieves W. Nutrition and sarcopenia. Nutrients. 2020;12(6):1755.
James W, Park S. Sarcopenia is a cause and consequence of metabolic dysregulation in aging humans. Cells. 2022;11(3):338.
John E, Morley MB, Erin V. Rapid geriatric assessment. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2015;16(10):808-812.
Levine ME, Crimmins EM. Sarcopenic obesity and cognitive functioning: The mediating roles of insulin resistance and inflammation? Curr Gerontol Geriatr Res. 2012;2012(1):826398.
Lin A, Wang T, Li C, Pu F, Abdelrahman Z, Jin M, et al. Association of sarcopenia with cognitive function and dementia risk score: A national prospective cohort study. Metabolites. 2023;13(2):245.
Malmstrom TK, Morley JE. SARC-F: A simple questionnaire to rapidly diagnose sarcopenia. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2013;14(8):531-2.
Moreira MA, Zunzunegui MV, Vafaei A. Sarcopenia obesity and physical performance in middle-aged women: A cross-sectional study in northeast Brazil. BMC Public Health. 2015;16(1):43.
Park JE, Lee S, Kim K. The effect of combining nutrient intake and physical activity level on central obesity, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity. BMC Geriatr. 2023;23(1):649.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
