Associations of sarcopenia components with physical activity and nutrition in Australian older adults performing exercise training

Ewelina Akehurst,David Scott,Helen Mccarthy,Jasmaine Murphy,Alan Hayes,Carol Alonso Gonzalez,Juan Peña Rodriguez,Sandor Dorgo

doi:10.1186/s12877-021-02212-y

Abstract

BackgroundThe risk of progressive declines in skeletal muscle mass and strength, termed sarcopenia, increases with age, physical inactivity and poor diet. The purpose of this study was to explore and compare associations of sarcopenia components with self-reported physical activity and nutrition in older adults participating in resistance training at Helsinki University Research [HUR] and conventional gyms for over a year, once a week, on average.MethodsThe study looked at differences between HUR (n = 3) and conventional (n = 1) gyms. Muscle strength (via handgrip strength and chair stands), appendicular lean mass (ALM; via dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) and physical performance (via gait speed over a 4-m distance, short physical performance battery, timed up and go and 400-m walk tests) were evaluated in 80 community-dwelling older adults (mean ± SD 76.5 ± 6.5 years). Pearson correlations explored associations for sarcopenia components with self-reported physical activity (via Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly [PASE]) and nutrition (via Australian Eating Survey).ResultsNo differences in PASE and the Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS) were observed between HUR and conventional gyms, however HUR gym participants had a significantly higher self-reported protein intake (108 ± 39 g vs 88 ± 27 g; p = 0.029) and a trend to have higher energy intake (9698 ± 3006 kJ vs 8266 ± 2904 kJ; p = 0.055). In both gym groups, gait speed was positively associated with self-reported physical activity (r = 0.275; p = 0.039 and r = 0.423; p = 0.044 for HUR and conventional gyms, respectively). ALM was positively associated with protein (p = 0.047, r = 0.418) and energy (p = 0.038, r = 0.435) intake in the conventional gym group. Similar associations were observed for ALM/h2 in the HUR group. None of the sarcopenia components were associated with ARFS in either gym group.ConclusionOlder adults attending HUR and conventional gyms had similar self-reported function and nutrition (but not protein intake). Inadequate physical activity was associated with low gait speed and inadequate nutrition and low protein ingestion associated with low lean mas, even in older adults participating in exercise programs. Optimal physical activity and nutrition are important for maintaining muscle mass and function in older adults.

Highlights

The risk of progressive declines in skeletal muscle mass and strength, termed sarcopenia, increases with age, physical inactivity and poor diet
Inadequate physical activity was associated with low gait speed and inadequate nutrition and low protein ingestion associated with low lean mas, even in older adults participating in exercise programs
There was no significant difference in Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) between the gym groups but Helsinki University Research (HUR) gym participants had a significantly higher protein intake than the conventional gym participants

Summary

Introduction

The risk of progressive declines in skeletal muscle mass and strength, termed sarcopenia, increases with age, physical inactivity and poor diet. The risk of progressive decline in skeletal muscle mass and strength, termed sarcopenia, increases with age, chronic disease, physical inactivity and poor diet [1,2,3]. HGS has been correlated with a number of performance measures, including the timed up and go (TUG) test [10], which predicts changes in functional balance [11] and was introduced as part of EWGSOP2 as a measure of sarcopenia severity. The 400 m walk test was introduced within the EWGSOP2 definition to assess mobility and endurance, in conjunction with chair stands (strength) and the well-established sarcopenia component gait speed (GS) [12]

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