Prevalence of Sarcopenia among Older Community-Dwelling People with Normal Health and Nutritional State

Abstract

This study analyzed whether sarcopenia, a risk factor for disability in the aged, also occurs in healthy community-dwelling elders with normal nutritional state. As indicators, body cell mass (BCM) and lean body mass (LBM) were determined in 110 Germans (ages 60–83) using bioimpedance analysis. Nutritional status, muscle function, anthropometry, and physical activity level were investigated. Sarcopenia was already present in well nourished healthy elders. Its prevalence depended on the measure of muscle mass used (BCM percent, 22 percent males, 20 percent females; LBM percent, 4 percent males, 11 percent females). In conclusion, screening for presence of sarcopenia is needed in healthy, well-nourished elderly populations requiring an international standardization.

KEYWORDS:

• sarcopenia
• prevalence
• elderly
• nutritional status
• body cell mass
• muscle mass
• anthropometry

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank the volunteers very much for taking part in this study. We are grateful to Felix Bredenow, Ines Sager, Annika Landgrebe, and Stefanie Barth, Department of Human Biology, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, for data collection.