Page 226 - Petelin, Ana. 2021. Ed. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
P. 226
avje starostnikov | health of the elderly 224 We observed a 45% lower n-3 fatty acids intake in the sarcopenic group
compared to the nonsarcopenic group. The findings of our study show that a
higher dietary intake of n-3 fatty acid in the nonsarcopenic group was associat-
ed with a significantly reduced risk of sarcopenia. The analyses considered pos-
sible covariates and indicated that the 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.
Various randomized controlled trials and cohort analysis shows a signif-
icant role of the dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids in preventing sarcopenia and
muscle loss (Ganapathy and Nieves, 2020). Besides, it was shown that n-3 fat-
ty acid supplementation directly stimulates muscle protein synthesis in older
adults and may be effective for muscle mass gain (Smith et al., 2011). Some pre-
vious studies have discovered that the prevalence of chronic disease is interre-
lated with systemic chronic low-grade inflammation, which contributes to the
loss of muscle mass, strength and function through several cytokine signalling
pathways (Kim et al., 2014; Dalle et al., 2017). It was suggested that nutrients
like n-3 fatty acids might have the potential of preventing and reducing numer-
ous chronic conditions caused by inflammatory factors by decreasing the lev-
el of inflammatory cytokines, and prevent the loss of muscle mass, strength
and function associated with age-related sarcopenia (Smith, 2016; Buoite et al.,
2018).
Certain limitations must be taken into consideration. Based on the
cross-sectional design of the study, no conclusion can be made on the cause-ef-
fect relationship between sarcopenia and nutrient factors. Therefore, research
along with longitudinal design and controlled bias would be useful in provid-
ing further clarification on the effects of the differences in nutrient intake re-
garding the risk of sarcopenia.
Conclusions
Musculoskeletal health is important for the functionality and independence of
older adults, and we showed that some nutrients as well as dietary patterns of-
fer protective effects against age-related declines in muscle mass and function.
The present results suggest that sarcopenic older adults have important
dietary deficiencies in n-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin C and some vitamin
B. The inadequate intake of these nutrients could be viewed as a risk factor for
sarcopenia, although prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.
References
ANKER, S.-D., MORLEY, J.-E., and HAEHLING, S., 2016. Welcome to the
ICD-10 code for sarcopenia. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Mus-
cle, vol. 7, no. 5, p. 512–514.
AYTEKIN, N., MILEVA, K. N., and CUNLIFFE, A. D., 2018. Selected B vita-
mins and their possible link to the aetiology of age-related sarcopenia:
compared to the nonsarcopenic group. The findings of our study show that a
higher dietary intake of n-3 fatty acid in the nonsarcopenic group was associat-
ed with a significantly reduced risk of sarcopenia. The analyses considered pos-
sible covariates and indicated that the 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.
Various randomized controlled trials and cohort analysis shows a signif-
icant role of the dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids in preventing sarcopenia and
muscle loss (Ganapathy and Nieves, 2020). Besides, it was shown that n-3 fat-
ty acid supplementation directly stimulates muscle protein synthesis in older
adults and may be effective for muscle mass gain (Smith et al., 2011). Some pre-
vious studies have discovered that the prevalence of chronic disease is interre-
lated with systemic chronic low-grade inflammation, which contributes to the
loss of muscle mass, strength and function through several cytokine signalling
pathways (Kim et al., 2014; Dalle et al., 2017). It was suggested that nutrients
like n-3 fatty acids might have the potential of preventing and reducing numer-
ous chronic conditions caused by inflammatory factors by decreasing the lev-
el of inflammatory cytokines, and prevent the loss of muscle mass, strength
and function associated with age-related sarcopenia (Smith, 2016; Buoite et al.,
2018).
Certain limitations must be taken into consideration. Based on the
cross-sectional design of the study, no conclusion can be made on the cause-ef-
fect relationship between sarcopenia and nutrient factors. Therefore, research
along with longitudinal design and controlled bias would be useful in provid-
ing further clarification on the effects of the differences in nutrient intake re-
garding the risk of sarcopenia.
Conclusions
Musculoskeletal health is important for the functionality and independence of
older adults, and we showed that some nutrients as well as dietary patterns of-
fer protective effects against age-related declines in muscle mass and function.
The present results suggest that sarcopenic older adults have important
dietary deficiencies in n-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin C and some vitamin
B. The inadequate intake of these nutrients could be viewed as a risk factor for
sarcopenia, although prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.
References
ANKER, S.-D., MORLEY, J.-E., and HAEHLING, S., 2016. Welcome to the
ICD-10 code for sarcopenia. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Mus-
cle, vol. 7, no. 5, p. 512–514.
AYTEKIN, N., MILEVA, K. N., and CUNLIFFE, A. D., 2018. Selected B vita-
mins and their possible link to the aetiology of age-related sarcopenia:
