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Identification of metabolites associated with the development of sarcopenia in older women: A longitudinal nested
Takashi Shida1, Sho Hatanaka1, Narumi Kojima1
1Research Team for Promoting Independence and Mental Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan.
Background & Aims:
The appropriateness of metabolomics for identifying predictive markers preceding sarcopenia diagnosis remains unknown. We conducted a metabolomic analysis comparing older women who developed sarcopenia over a 5-year period with those who did not, with the aim of identifying serum metabolites associated with the development of sarcopenia.
Methods:
This longitudinal nested case-control study comprised an independent cohort sample based on data collected as a baseline survey in 2017 and follow-up survey in 2022 in the Itabashi Ward of Tokyo, Japan. This study included 37 women without sarcopenia during the 2017 survey, who were diagnosed with sarcopenia in the 2022 survey, and 37 control participants without sarcopenia throughout both survey periods. Non-targeted metabolomics using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was performed on serum samples from all participants as of 2017. Sarcopenia was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria, which include low muscle mass and either low muscle strength or low physical function.
Results:
GC-MS analysis showed that 2-aminoadipic acid, alanine, and leucine were significantly associated with sarcopenia development. Binomial logistic regression analysis showed that baseline 2-aminoadipic acid levels were significantly associated with the risk of reduced grip strength after 5 years, with a halving of its concentration increasing this risk by 1.6 times. There were no significant associations between other metabolites (alanine and leucine) and the skeletal muscle index, grip strength, or gait speed.
Conclusion:
Measuring 2-aminoadipic acid, alanine, and leucine levels may provide new insights into the pathophysiology of sarcopenia, and enhance early detection and prevention strategies.
