Sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults is associated with the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota

• Published in: Experimental gerontology Vol. 167; p. 111927
• Main Authors: Lee, Yun-Ah, Song, Sang-Wook, Jung, Su Young, Bae, Jaewoong, Hwang, Nakwon, Kim, Ha-Na
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.10.2022
• Subjects: Gut microbiota; Muscle mass; Muscle strength; Older adults; Physical performance; Sarcopenia; Gut microbiota; Sarcopenia; Muscle strength; Physical performance; Older adults; Muscle mass
• ISSN: 0531-5565; 1873-6815; 1873-6815
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2022.111927

Sarcopenia is a prognostic indicator of negative consequences in older adults, including physical disability, frailty, and mortality. Few studies have investigated the associations between sarcopenia and the gut microbiota. We sought such associations in community-dwelling older adults aged ≥60 years. Sarcopenia was defined as low muscle mass, plus reduced physical performance, and/or low skeletal muscle strength. 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing was used to identify the components of the gut microbiota in fecal samples from 27 older adults with sarcopenia and 33 without sarcopenia. Relationships between sarcopenia and the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota were analyzed. Diversities at the species level were detected between the sarcopenia and control groups (P = 0.049). The abundance of Prevotella and Prevotella copri was significantly lower (P = 0.021 and P = 0.018 respectively) and that of Parabacteroides sp. higher in the sarcopenia than the control group (P = 0.010). Linear discriminant analysis of effect size revealed differences in the microbiota composition between the two groups. Sarcopenia was related with the presence of Anaerotruncus and Phascolarctobacterium sp. and the absence of Prevotella sp. and Prevotella copri. Further research is warranted to clarify whether changes in the gut microbiota cause sarcopenia onset or development. •Sarcopenia in adults ≥ 60 years of age was associated with a gut microbiota that differed in diversity and composition from that of subjects without sarcopenia.•The abundance of Prevotella and Prevotella copri was lower and that of Parabacteroides sp. higher in older adults with sarcopenia.•Further longitudinal studies are warranted to clarify the causal impact of the gut microbiota on sarcopenia development.