Characterization of Sarcopenia in an IBD Population Attending an Italian Gastroenterology Tertiary Center

Abstract

(1) Background: There is growing interest in the assessment of muscular mass in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as sarcopenia is associated with important outcomes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the percentage of sarcopenia in IBD patients, characterizing methods for assessment and clinical symptoms associated to it. (2) Methods: Consecutive IBD patients accessing the Fondazione Policlinico Agostino Gemelli Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) were enrolled. Healthy patients, elderly or elderly sarcopenic patients, were enrolled as controls. Skeletal muscle mass was evaluated by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) or Bio-Impedensometric Analysis (BIA). Asthenia degree was assessed by subjective visual analogue scales (VAS). Quality of life was measured by the EQ-5D questionnaire. (3) Results: Patients with IBD showed a significant reduction in skeletal muscle mass than healthy controls with lower DEXA and BIA parameters. Moreover, IBD patients presented a lower perception of muscle strength with a higher incidence of asthenia and reduction in quality of life when compared with healthy controls. A significant association between loss in skeletal muscle mass and high asthenia degree was found, configuring a condition of sarcopenia in about one third of patients with IBD. (4) Conclusions: Sarcopenia is common in IBD patients and it is associated with fatigue perception as well as a reduction in quality of life. Therefore, routine assessment of nutritional status and body composition should be a cornerstone in clinical practice, bringing gastroenterologists and nutritionists closer together for a compact, defined picture.

Gut–Joint Axis: The Role of Physical Exercise on Gut Microbiota Modulation in Older People with Osteoarthritis

“…It has been previously shown that low intensity exercise might reduce the risk of gastrointestinal diseases (i.e., colon cancer, diverticulosis, and inflammatory bowel disease), taking into account the strict correlation between skeletal muscle and GM [13,[17][18][19][20][21]. In more detail, physical activity might modify the transient stool time and the contact time between the pathogens and the gastrointestinal mucus layer, resulting in the gastrointestinal tract modifications above-mentioned [78].…”

“…Moreover, it has been recently hypothesized that physical exercise could also play a key role in modifying GM composition [17] and at the same time, it could reduce the risk of gastrointestinal diseases [18] such as inflammatory bowel disease, considering the emergent well-studied relationship between muscle function and GM [13,[19][20][21].…”

Sarcopenia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Narrative Overview

“…Therapies for targeting inflammation are often the focus of current research, with less focus on the prevalence and impact of sarcopenia in IBD; despite a recent meta-analysis showing that 52% of patients with CD and 37% of patients with UC have sarcopenia [ 9 ]. These results are significant as sarcopenia is known to have a clear impact on quality of life, length of hospital stay, surgical outcomes, and mortality [ 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”

Role of Human Body Composition Analysis and Malnutrition Risk Questionnaire in the Assessment of Nutritional Status of Patients With Initially Diagnosed Crohn's Disease

“…In CD patients, the hormones and proinflammatory cytokines act together on some cellular pathways to decrease protein synthesis and increase protein decomposition, resulting in muscular mass reduction (9,10). In addition, the protein intake reduces and/or the protein loss increases due to chronic or acute diarrhea in CD patients.…”