Body mass index-adjusted calf circumference and mid-arm muscle circumference are associated with hospital stay in overweight patients: A cohort study.

The effects of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate on sarcopenia in stable decompensated cirrhosis: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity are growing global health concerns, particularly in older adults who are at higher risk of sarcopenia. While sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors show promise for glycemic control and weight loss, their effects on muscle health remain unclear. We examined the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on body weight, fat mass, and muscle mass in T2DM patients. We systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane databases for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Three reviewers screened the studies, and two extracted data and assessed their quality. R software was used to evaluate heterogeneity via Cochran's Q and I2 statistics. Eight RCTs (n = 541) were included. SGLT2 inhibitors significantly reduced body weight (standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.85, p < 0.001; I2 = 0%) and fat mass (SMD = -0.53, p < 0.001; I2 = 51.1%). A small reduction in muscle mass was observed (SMD = -0.35, p < 0.001; I2 = 22.9%), though substantially smaller than fat loss. Subgroup analysis confirmed that fat mass was reduced with dapagliflozin/ipragliflozin (SMD = -0.67, p < 0.001; I2 = 26.4%) and empagliflozin (SMD = -0.53, p < 0.001; I2 = 66.4%). SGLT2 inhibitors effectively reduce body weight primarily through fat loss in older adults. Although muscle mass declined modestly, the predominance of fat loss suggests weight reduction occurs through favorable metabolic changes. Given the slight muscle mass changes and study heterogeneity, careful monitoring in older adults is warranted, and further studies in diverse populations are needed.

Osteosarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome characterized by the coexistence of sarcopenia and osteopenia/osteoporosis, which can lead to frailty and mortality. The effectiveness of physical exercise on osteosarcopenia, particularly on muscular and skeletal parameters, remains unclear. This systematic review aimed to analyze the impact of exercise interventions on osteosarcopenia in older adults and to describe the diagnostic methods used in different clinical trials. Randomized clinical trials conducted in older adults (≥65 years) diagnosed with osteosarcopenia were included, sourced from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus databases without language or publication year restrictions, up to July 2024. Osteosarcopenia was defined as the coexistence of sarcopenia and osteopenia/osteoporosis based on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) criteria. Exercise interventions of at least four weeks were considered, with comparisons to non-exercise control groups. This systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42016043310). A total of 250 articles were identified, but only four studies met the eligibility criteria, involving 195 participants. All included studies utilized resistance training (RT) as the exercise intervention. The most common diagnostic criteria for osteosarcopenia were based on the T-score of the lumbar spine and/or femur, measured via DXA, using World Health Organization cut-off points for bone mineral density (BMD) and the criteria from the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People for sarcopenia. RT was found to be effective in increasing strength and muscle mass in older adults diagnosed with osteosarcopenia, though it did not significantly improve physical performance. There are few studies on this topic, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions regarding the effectiveness of physical exercise in older adults with osteosarcopenia. Resistance training showed positive results, particularly in improving strength and muscle mass. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42020215659.

Sex differences in musculoskeletal aging are often attributed to gonadal hormones, but the independent role of sex chromosomes remains unclear. Using the Four Core Genotype mouse model, which dissociates sex chromosomes (XX vs. XY) from gonadal sex (ovaries vs. testes), our goal was to examine sex chromosomes and gonads independent and interactive effects on bone, muscle and organ phenotypes from 8 to 20months of age in XXO, XYO, XXT, and XYT mice. XYO mice showed high mortality (38.7%-survival by 20months) when compared with other genotypes (67-86.7%). Between 8 and 20months, XYO mice showed increases in lean mass and femoral BMD and improved bone structural parameters, yet lower cortical tissue mineral density. XXO mice displayed pronounced late-life gains in body weight, lean and fat mass not observed in other genotypes, although lean mass differed only versus XXT mice at 20months. Total and spine BMD declined in XXO mice, accompanied with lower structural parameters and higher tissue mineral density than XYO mice. XXT mice displayed bone loss at all skeletal sites, whereas XYT mice showed a selective decline in spine BMD. Overall, chromosome sex adversely affected bone and muscle mass in XX versus XY mice, while gonadal sex influenced bone structure and absolute muscle mass, with mice bearing ovaries generally exhibiting lower muscle mass. Organ weight effects were modest and limited to spleen (XYO>XXO/XYT) and brain (XYT>XXT). Collectively, these findings reveal a previously unrecognized, tissue-specific contribution of sex chromosomes to musculoskeletal aging, independent of gonadal sex.

Medicinal plants in the management of muscle loss and sarcopenia: A narrative review of preclinical and clinical evidence from eight species.

Sarcopenia and malnutrition have detrimental health related outcomes not limited to falls, weakness, fractures, increased hospital length of stay, increased risk of infections, morbidity and mortality. Ultrasound is an establishing imaging modality that can be utilized at point-of care to measure muscle mass and quality. It is cheaper, less invasive, and more accessible than other gold-standard measurements of muscle mass. It is proposed that dietitians can utilize this measurement in clinical practice to support both diagnosis and monitoring of malnutrition and sarcopenia, however current evidence has not been synthesized. The search was completed in May 2024. MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched. Search terms and search procedures were transposed across different databases based on known Booleen operators. Due to paucity of evidence in the area, a broad search strategy was employed. Simply the combination of synonyms of ultrasound and dietitian within any field was used to ensure any kind of ultrasound measured by a dietitian was captured. The initial search identified 946 titles for review from which 228 duplicates were removed, leaving 718 for screening. After screening, 55 papers remained for full-text review. Ten papers were included for appraisal. All peer-reviewed papers were observational, 441 participants in total were included (both healthy participants and patient cohorts). Study quality was low, with study design, documentation of training, timing of measurement and blinding poorly defined. The reference standard (if any) was inconsistent. All studies were basic research, none were translated into clinical practice. Quad muscle thickness was the most common measurement. Reliability of dietitians was reported in most, with intra-rater ICC ranges from 0.63 to 0.95 between dietitians and 'experts' (intensivists, trained clinicians or sonographers). Training undertaken was reported in half the papers reviewed but details were limited. Emerging evidence suggests dietitians have potential to develop skills in measuring muscles with ultrasound. Overall, there remains a paucity of publications in the area, particularly when considering dietitian training and reliability in various ultrasound measurements. There should be progress in Further studies with regard to verifying necessary training for dietitians to ensure accurate readings as an advanced scope of practice for dietitians.

Promoting healthy aging: A systematic review of the transformative effects of nutritional interventions in elderly population.

Sarcopenia and recurrence risk in high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a nonlinear modeling approach.

Usefulness of the bioimpedance phase angle in identifying older adults with poor muscle properties: The Shizuoka study.

Skeletal muscle is a vital part of human physiology and is responsible for numerous essential functions. Not surprisingly, the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function is common in several pathologies including atrophy and sarcopenia, which profoundly impact quality of life of those afflicted. Thus, numerous investigations of potential therapies for mitigating or reversing such pathologies are available. Within these studies, experimental cell culture models such as the murine C2C12 myoblasts are commonly used. Over 100 publications have utilized dexamethasone-treated C2C12 myotubes to investigate various aspects of muscle atrophy. The purpose of this systematic review is to describe the experimental conditions common to these experiments, as well as phenotypical myotube presentation, and gene and protein expression of targets that regulate muscle mass, function, and metabolism. A systematic review of literature was conducted until 3 January 2025 using PUBMED. Articles were included if (1) C2C12 myotubes were used, (2) the article included a dexamethasone-only group along with appropriate vehicle or true control and (3) the article assessed at least one of the related phenotypical or molecular outcomes of importance to the scope of the review. A total of 182 articles were included after screening for relevance and inclusion criteria, which were assessed for outcomes (raw data reported when available or using ratio-metric estimates of relative differences between dexamethasone treatment and control). In 24 of 26 unique experiments that utilized 10 μM dexamethasone and 37 of 39 unique experiments that utilized 100 μM dexamethasone, a decrease in myotube diameter was reported (pooled experimental average estimates from 24-h time points 69.8% ± 7.5% and 66.9% ± 14.7% for 10 and 100 μM, respectively, vs. control). All six studies that utilized 10 μM dexamethasone and all nine that treated myotubes with 100 μM dexamethasone reported reduced fusion index (pooled experimental average estimates from 24-h time points: 67.6% ± 5.3% and 68.4% ± 8.4% for 10 and 100 μM, respectively, vs. control). Dexamethasone-treated myotubes also consistently expressed increased atrophic-related molecular targets including Atrogin-1 and muscle atrophy X box1 (MuRF1), as well as reductions in anabolic signalling (specifically, mTORC and Akt activation) and mitochondrial function. The striking consistency of these findings suggests dexamethasone treatment of C2C12 myotubes is a reliable method of mimicking many features common to skeletal muscle pathology. This review provides insight into the use and expected outcomes of the dexamethasone-mediated model of atrophy in C2C12 myotubes and may serve as a helpful reference for future experiments utilizing this model.

Efficacy of a 12-week supervised home-based exercise program and nutritional supplementation in cirrhotic patients with sarcopenia: A prospective pilot study.

Anabolic androgenic steroids are synthetic derivatives of testosterone that mimic its actions in various tissues. Due to its strong anabolic activity, weak androgenic effects, and resistance to hepatic metabolism, oxandrolone is one of the most commonly used anabolic steroids among female athletes. This study aimed to evaluate the anabolic effects of oxandrolone and its toxicological profile in female rats subjected to a strength training protocol. A total of 24 female Wistar rats (60 days old) were randomly assigned to receive oxandrolone (1.77 mg/kg/day) or its vehicle (corn oil) (n = 12 per group) via daily gavage for 28 days. The exercise protocol consisted of six climbs on an inclined ladder, with two climbs per workload (50 %, 75 %, and 100 % of each animal's maximum load) performed three times per week. Investigators remained blinded throughout experimentation and data analysis. Oxandrolone did not significantly affect body weight gain, relative organ and muscle mass, or muscle strength. However, it altered mean corpuscular volume, eosinophil count, and urea levels. Additionally, liver TBARS levels increased, while no changes were observed in plasma lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme activity, total non-protein thiol levels, or mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activity. Histopathological analysis revealed oxandrolone-induced damage to cardiac and skeletal muscle, along with structural alterations in the spleen and adrenal gland. Given its limited effect on muscle strength, along with histopathological changes and increased liver lipoperoxidation, these findings raise concerns about oxandrolone use in healthy individuals seeking aesthetic or athletic benefits.

Sarcopenia as a risk factor for incident pain in Chinese middle-aged and older adults: longitudinal evidence from the CHARLS cohort.

Sarcopenia is an age-related condition characterized by progressive muscle mass, strength and physical performance declines, contributing to frailty and adverse health outcomes. Despite increasing interest in molecular biomarkers, longitudinal data with external validation are limited. This study applied high-throughput proteomic analysis to identify and validate biomarkers associated with sarcopenia progression in two independent prospective cohorts. The discovery cohort (n = 171) was classified into three groups: (1) nonsarcopenic at both baseline and the 2-year follow-up; (2) newly developed sarcopenia; and (3) persistently sarcopenic. The validation cohort (n = 93) was followed up for 2 years. Plasma proteomic profiling was conducted using data-independent acquisition (DIA) mass spectrometry. For the validation cohort, targeted quantification (Hyper Reaction Monitoring-DIA) and immunoassays were employed to verify key findings. Statistical analyses included multivariable regression and pathway enrichment analysis. In the discovery cohort, 102 proteins were differentially expressed between groups (p < 0.05). Compared to the stable nonsarcopenic group, individuals who developed sarcopenia demonstrated significant APOA1 (fold change -1.42, p < 0.001) and KLKB1 downregulation and LECT2 upregulation. Those who remained sarcopenic exhibited persistent B2M (+1.58, p < 0.001), S100A9 and LYZ elevation. We identified seven robust protein signatures (LRG1, CST3, TIMP1, C2, ITIH1, AMBP and LYZ) that showed consistent significant associations with sarcopenia components in both cohorts. LRG1 and TIMP1, CST3 and C2 were reproducibly associated with muscle strength, physical performance and muscle mass, respectively. Pathway enrichment analyses consistently highlighted LXR/RXR signalling, acute phase response signalling and complement cascade activation as central mechanisms across these domains. This study identified and validated plasma protein signatures and pathways associated with sarcopenia progression. Complement activation, acute inflammatory response and lipid dysregulation emerged as central mechanisms. These robustly validated biomarkers may represent targets for early detection and intervention strategies in sarcopenia.

Mitigating loss of lean muscle in GLP-1 and dual GLP-1/GIP agonists: Pipeline opportunities and limitations.

Nano-curcumin mitigates muscle impairment in hypoxic hindlimb-unloaded mice.

Ultrasound assessment of muscle mass in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients and its correlation with clinical outcomes: A retrospective observational study.

Association between pain catastrophizing and sarcopenia in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional study.

Muscle wasting is frequently observed in critically ill patients, leading to increased rates of complications and mortality, and could be determined by measuring the quadriceps femoris muscle thickness (QFMT). One significant contributing factor is inflammation, with interleukin-6 (IL-6) as one of the important markers. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), especially leucine, enhance muscle protein synthesis, and reduce inflammation. This study examined the effects of high leucine BCAA supplementation on QFMT and IL-6 levels in critically ill patients. This multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial was conducted in two hospitals in Indonesia from December 2023 to May 2024. Recently admitted critically ill patients were randomly assigned to receive 40 g/day of BCAA (19 g/day of leucine, with a ratio of leucine : isoleucine : valine = 2:1:1.2) supplementation, either enterally or partial parenterally, for 10 days, or to a control group. QFMT was measured using an ultrasound (US), and IL-6 serum levels were measured at baseline and day 10. We performed a linear mixed model to analyse the effects of other factors on outcomes. Forty participants were included in this study; most (78 %) were male, median age 49 (21), and had a surgical diagnosis (55 %). Patients in both groups had similar initial QFMT and IL-6 levels. On day 10 of the study, loss of muscle thickness was found to be less prominent in the BCAA than the control group (0 vs. -13 %, p = 0.001), and the BCAA group showed a significant reduction in IL-6 levels than control (-59.1 vs. 126.5 pg/mL, p = 0.012). Supplementing critically ill patients with high leucine BCAA potentially attenuates muscle mass loss and reduces IL-6 levels. NCT06167772.