Micronutrients and sarcopenia: current perspectives

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Nutritional Science
• Muscle Physiology

Background:

• Sarcopenia, a skeletal muscle disorder causing loss of muscle strength and mass, is prevalent in aging populations and linked to adverse health outcomes.
• Incomplete understanding of sarcopenia's pathophysiology hinders effective prevention and treatment strategies.
• While nutrition is crucial, the impact of habitual diets and dietary changes on sarcopenia remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the association between micronutrient intake and sarcopenia risk and its components.
• To identify specific micronutrients potentially involved in sarcopenia etiology.
• To highlight gaps in current research and advocate for future studies.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing evidence linking low micronutrient intakes to sarcopenia risk, muscle strength, mass, and physical performance.
• Analysis of observational and cross-sectional studies.
• Identification of consistent findings across studies regarding specific nutrient groups.

Main Results:

• Growing evidence suggests a link between low micronutrient intake and increased risk of sarcopenia or its components.
• Antioxidant nutrients, B vitamins, and magnesium show potential roles, though evidence is largely observational.
• Associations are often described in cross-sectional studies with varying muscle outcome measures.

Conclusions:

• Low micronutrient intake is a potential risk factor for sarcopenia, particularly in older adults.
• Further research, especially from well-characterized prospective cohorts, is essential to clarify the role of micronutrients in sarcopenia.
• Evidence is needed to inform dietary guidelines for promoting muscle health in aging populations.