Inflammatory biomarkers and sarcopenia in older adults

Chronic inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of sarcopenia in older adults. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between inflammatory biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the anabolic hormone insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) with sarcopenia. A hospital-based case-control study was conducted among patients aged ≥60 years attending the Geriatric Medicine outpatient clinic. Participants were screened using the SARC-F tool and sarcopenia diagnosis was confirmed according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria. Serum levels of CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, and IGF-1 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 30 sarcopenic cases and 30 age- and sex-matched controls. Group differences were assessed using independent samples t-test or Mann-Whitney U test, and correlations were evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. The mean ages of cases and controls were 67.6 ± 7.5 and 66.1 ± 6.2 years, respectively; females comprised 56.7% of cases and 46.7% of controls. Mean CRP (5.58 ± 2.47 mg/L vs. 2.98 ± 3.00 mg/L; p = 0.001) and TNF-α levels (176.66 ± 163.10 pg/mL vs. 45.10 ± 89.14 pg/mL; p < 0.001) were significantly higher in sarcopenic cases compared to controls. No statistically significant differences were found for IL-6 or IGF-1 levels. Increased CRP and TNF-α levels are associated with sarcopenia in older adults, suggesting a role of systemic inflammation in its pathogenesis. IGF-1, an anabolic hormone known to be influenced by inflammation, did not differ significantly between groups. Larger studies with rigorous exclusion of confounders are needed to validate these findings and clarify the role of inflammatory processes in sarcopenia.