Dietary intake and its association with sarcopenia in older adults: a cross-sectional analysis

Sarcopenia, a condition characterized by the loss of muscle mass and function, poses a major health challenge among older adults. Identifying nutritional factors and dietary patterns associated with sarcopenia is critical for developing targeted interventions. This study analyzed data from 584 community-dwelling older adults (245 male, 339 female) enrolled in the Yakumo Study to investigate the relationship between dietary factors and sarcopenia. Nutritional intake was assessed using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), while dietary diversity was evaluated using dietary variety score (DVS). Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria, based on skeletal muscle mass, hand grip strength, and walking speed. The prevalence of sarcopenia in the study population was 7.4%. Nutritional intake of individual nutrients, such as protein and vitamin D, did not significantly differ between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic participants. However, the intake rates for total calories, dietary fiber, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and vitamin C were significantly higher in the sarcopenia group. No significant differences were found in DVS, and no correlations were found between DVS scores and skeletal muscle mass index, grip strength, or walking speed. These results may indicate that factors beyond nutrient intake-such as nutrient absorption, utilization, and metabolic efficiency-play a pivotal role in sarcopenia development.