Active and Healthy Lifestyle Among Active Older Adults and Selected Sarcopenic Characteristics

Sarcopenia is defined as the age-related loss of muscle strength and mass that occur in parallel to the decline in physical performance. The causes of sarcopenia can be divided into biological and behavioural. Nutrition, diet and eating habits of an individual constitute a behavioural cause that might importantly contribute to sarcopenia. The study aimed to determine if the nutrition status of active older adults is related to sarcopenic characteristics. We included 52 older adults, aged 75.9 ± 5.3. Sarcopenic characteristics were evaluated with the following three tests; handgrip test, skeletal muscle index and gait speed. Nutrition status was evaluated with the Mini nutritional assessment (MNA), while the Mediterranean lifestyle was evaluated with the questionnaire MEDLIFE. We used Pearson’s coefficient to determine the correlation between sarcopenic characteristics and nutrition status or Mediterranean lifestyle. Simple linear regression was used to test if nutrition status or Mediterranean lifestyle significantly predicted selected sarcopenic characteristics. The results showed a moderate positive correlation between nutrition status and gait speed in males, r(20)=0.452 (p=0.035). The fitted regression model was Y=0,841 + 0.068*MNA. Also, there was a strong negative correlation between Mediterranean lifestyle and handgrip test in females, r(28)=-0.543 (p=0.001). The fitted regression model was Y=37.437 – 0.763*MEDLIFE.