Association of Eating Behavior, Nutritional Risk, and Frailty with Sarcopenia in Taiwanese Rural Community-Dwelling Elders: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

This cross-sectional study assessed the association of eating behavior, nutritional risk, and frailty with sarcopenia in 208 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years who were recruited from random rural community care centers in Chiayi County, Taiwan. The participants’ eating behavior was categorized into six categories. The gait speed (GS), grip strength, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) were assessed based on these three parameters, which revealed that 50.9% of the participants had sarcopenia. In an adjusted model, water intake (odds ratio (OR) = 0.99, p = 0.044), dairy product intake (OR = 0.42, p = 0.049), body mass index (BMI) (OR = 0.77, p = 0.019), and marital status with widowed (OR = 0.31, p = 0.005) were significantly associated with sarcopenia. After eight steps of eliminating the least significant independent variable, age (p = 0.002), sex (p = 0.000), marital status with widowed (p = 0.001), water intake (p < 0.018), dairy product intake (p < 0.019), and BMI (p = 0.005) were found to be indispensable predictors of sarcopenia. The logistic regression model with these six indispensable variables had a predictive value of 75.8%. Longitudinal analyses are warranted to examine whether eating behavior is a risk factor for sarcopenia onset.

Identification and Characterization of Genomic Predictors of Sarcopenia and Sarcopenic Obesity Using UK Biobank Data

“…This is in line with the previous studies stating that low educational attainment [ 41 ], neuroticism [ 42 ], low testosterone levels [ 43 ], short stature [ 44 ], high alcohol [ 45 ], processed meat [ 46 ] and salt [ 47 ] intake, sedentary behavior (such as watching television) [ 48 ], smoking and physical inactivity [ 49 ] are associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia or low muscle strength, whereas coffee, magnesium, potassium, protein, vitamin D, water, oil fish, fruits and vegetables intake [ 46 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 ] have protective effects against sarcopenia.…”

Meat–Egg–Dairy Consumption and Frailty among Chinese Older Adults: Exploring Rural/Urban and Gender Differences

“…For instance, the positive effects of certain dietary components, such as higher intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, on frailty among older adults were substantiated and supported by various longitudinal studies [9,24,25]. Conversely, some other studies have identified the potential risk factors associated with frailty, including excessive consumption of processed food, and high-fat, high-sugar foods [26]. Unhealthy dietary habits characterized by a low intake of essential nutrients, such as protein and vitamins, may contribute to frailty development and exacerbate age-related declines in physical function and cognitive health [10].…”