Association of Age at Menopause With Lean Body Mass and Sarcopenia Risk in Postmenopausal Korean Women

To evaluate whether menopause at or before 45 years of age is associated with lower lean body mass and a higher risk of sarcopenia in postmenopausal Korean women.

This cross-sectional study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2008-2011. Postmenopausal women aged 40 years or older who underwent whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were included. Lean body mass was defined as fat-free soft tissue mass excluding bone mineral content. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine total lean body mass, and logistic regression was used to estimate sarcopenia defined by the appendicular skeletal muscle mass-to-body mass index ratio.

A total of 4244 postmenopausal women were included. Women with menopause at or before 45 years had significantly lower trunk, leg, and total lean body mass than those with menopause after 45 years. After adjustment for age, body mass index, cardiometabolic factors, menopausal hormone therapy, and walking activity, menopause at or before 45 years remained independently associated with lower total lean body mass (regression coefficient, -430.76; p = 0.0084). In the overall population, the association between early menopause and sarcopenia was not significant after adjustment. However, among women with body mass index of at least 23 kg/m², menopause at or before 45 years remained significantly associated with sarcopenia (odds ratio, 1.304; 95% confidence interval, 1.017-1.726; p = 0.0432).

Earlier menopause was independently associated with lower lean body mass, and its association with sarcopenia was evident in women with higher body mass index.