Physical Activity Energy Expenditure and Sarcopenia in Black South African Urban Women

• Published in: Journal of physical activity & health Vol. 13; no. 3; p. 296
• Main Authors: Kruger, Herculina S, Havemann-Nel, Lize, Ravyse, Chrisna, Moss, Sarah J, Tieland, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.2016
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon; Adult; African Continental Ancestry Group; Aged; Aging - physiology; Anthropometry; Cross-Sectional Studies; Energy Metabolism; Female; Gait; Geriatric Assessment; Hand Strength - physiology; Humans; Motor Activity - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Prevalence; Sarcopenia - ethnology; Sarcopenia - physiopathology
• ISSN: 1543-5474
• DOI: 10.1123/jpah.2015-0078

Black women are believed to be genetically less predisposed to age-related sarcopenia. The objective of this study was to investigate lifestyle factors associated with sarcopenia in black South African (SA) urban women. In a cross-sectional study, 247 women (mean age 57 y) were randomly selected. Anthropometric and sociodemographic variables, dietary intakes, and physical activity were measured. Activity was also measured by combined accelerometery/heart rate monitoring (ActiHeart), and HIV status was tested. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to measure appendicular skeletal mass (ASM). Sarcopenia was defined according to a recently derived SA cutpoint of ASM index (ASM/height squared) < 4.94 kg/m(2). In total, 8.9% of the women were sarcopenic, decreasing to 8.1% after exclusion of participants who were HIV positive. In multiple regressions with ASM index, grip strength, and gait speed, respectively, as dependent variables, only activity energy expenditure (β = .27) was significantly associated with ASM index. Age (β = -.50) and activity energy expenditure (β = .17) were significantly associated with gait speed. Age (β = -.11) and lean mass (β = .21) were significantly associated with handgrip strength. Sarcopenia was prevalent among these SA women and was associated with low physical activity energy expenditure.