Sarcopenia in the elderly versus microcirculation, inflammation status, and oxidative stress: A cross-sectional study

Age-related mechanisms of sarcopenia associated with vascular function have been recently suggested. This study compared and tested associations between muscle mass and strength, microcirculation, inflammatory biomarkers, and oxidative stress in older adults classified as sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic.

Thirty-three physically inactive individuals (72±7 yrs) were assigned to age-matched sarcopenic (SG) and non-sarcopenic (NSG) groups. Between-group comparisons were performed for appendicular skeletal mass (ASM), handgrip and isokinetic strength, microvascular function and morphology, C-reactive protein, insulin-like growth factor-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, endothelin-1, and oxidized low-density lipoprotein.

ASM and knee isokinetic strength were lower in SG than NSG (P < 0.05). No difference between groups was found for outcomes of microvascular function and morphology, but log-transformed IL-6 concentration was twice greater in SG vs. NSG (P = 0.02). Correlations between ASM index, handgrip and knee isokinetic strength vs. markers of microcirculatory function, capillary diameters, vascular reactivity, and endothelial injury were found only in SG.

Decreased ASM index and strength have been associated with microcirculatory profile, indicating that microcirculation impairment may be involved somehow in Sarcopenia development. The inflammation status, particularly elevated IL-6, seems to play an important role in this process.