Abstract
ABSTRACTBackgroundAge-related loss of skeletal muscle mass contributes to poor outcomes including sarcopenia, physical disability, frailty, type 2 diabetes, and mortality. Vitamin C has physiological relevance to skeletal muscle and may protect it during aging, but few studies have investigated its importance in older populations.ObjectivesWe aimed to investigate cross-sectional associations of dietary and plasma vitamin C with proxy measures of skeletal muscle mass in a large cohort of middle- and older-aged individuals.MethodsWe analyzed data from >13,000 men and women in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition–Norfolk cohort, aged 42–82 y. Fat-free mass (FFM), as a proxy for skeletal muscle mass, was estimated using bioelectrical impedance analysis and expressed as a percentage of total mass (FFM%) or standardized by BMI (FFMBMI). Dietary vitamin C intakes were calculated from 7-d food diary data, and plasma vitamin C was measured in peripheral blood. Multivariable regression models, including relevant lifestyle, dietary, and biological covariates, were used to determine associations between FFM measures and quintiles of dietary vitamin C or insufficient compared with sufficient plasma vitamin C (<50 μmol/L and ≥50 μmol/L).ResultsPositive trends were found across quintiles of dietary vitamin C and FFM measures for both sexes, with interquintile differences in FFM% and FFMBMI of 1.0% and 2.3% for men and 1.9% and 2.9% for women, respectively (all P < 0.001). Similarly, FFM% and FFMBMI measures were higher in participants with sufficient than with insufficient plasma vitamin C: by 1.6% and 2.0% in men, and 3.4% and 3.9% in women, respectively (all P < 0.001). Associations were also evident in analyses stratified into <65-y and ≥65-y age groups.ConclusionsOur findings of positive associations, of both dietary and circulating vitamin C with measures of skeletal muscle mass in middle- and older-aged men and women, suggest that dietary vitamin C intake may be useful for reducing age-related muscle loss.
Highlights
Sarcopenia is characterized by a progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength [1,2,3,4]
Positive associations were found between dietary vitamin C and Fat-free mass (FFM)% in both men and women (P < 0.001, n = 6350 men; and P < 0.001, n = 7989 women) after adjustment for covariates, with significant interquintile differences (Q5 compared with Q1) in FFM% of +1.0% (P < 0.001, n = 6350) in men and +1.9% (P < 0.001, n = 7989) in women
Similar associations were found between vitamin C and fat-free mass standardized by BMI (FFMBMI) (P < 0.001 for both men and women) after adjustment for covariates; and interquintile differences were significant, with Q5 compared with Q1 differences in FFMBMI of +2.3% in men and +2.9% in women
Summary
Sarcopenia is characterized by a progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength [1,2,3,4]. Whereas maintenance of strength and function is recognized as important for preventing functional limitations, physical disability, and loss of mobility, less recognized are the metabolic disturbances associated with loss of skeletal muscle mass [4,5,6,7,8] These metabolic disturbances include altered utilization of amino acids, glucose, and fatty acids, as well as contributions to the onset of obesity and type 2 diabetes [4,5,6,7,8]. Conclusions: Our findings of positive associations, of both dietary and circulating vitamin C with measures of skeletal muscle mass in middle- and older-aged men and women, suggest that dietary vitamin C intake may be useful for reducing age-related muscle loss.
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