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Muscle Matters: Dietary Supplement Use and Sarcopenia Risk
Francesco Saverio Ragusa1, Anna Licata2, Pascal R Titone1
1Geriatric Unit, Via Del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy.
Geriatrics (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 24, 2026
Summary
Older adults using dietary supplements are more likely to be at risk of sarcopenia, a condition characterized by muscle loss. Supplement use may indicate underlying health issues rather than cause sarcopenia.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Sarcopenia risk and dietary supplement use in older adults is understudied.
- Investigating the link between supplement consumption and sarcopenia risk is crucial for geriatric health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between dietary supplement use and the risk of sarcopenia in an older outpatient population.
- To determine if supplement use is an independent risk factor or a marker of frailty in elderly individuals.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study analyzed data from 162 older outpatients.
- Sarcopenia risk was assessed using the SARC-F questionnaire.
- Logistic regression models identified associations between supplement use and sarcopenia risk, adjusting for confounders.
Main Results:
- Over half (55.4%) of supplement users were at risk of sarcopenia (SARC-F ≥ 4).
- Supplement users reported higher difficulty with walking and rising from a chair.
- Individuals at risk of sarcopenia were more likely to use dietary supplements (OR 2.35, adjusted).
Conclusions:
- Dietary supplement use is common in older adults and linked to increased sarcopenia risk.
- Supplementation may act as a marker for overall clinical vulnerability rather than a direct cause of sarcopenia.
- Assessment of muscle health is vital for older adults who use dietary supplements.
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