The journal of nutrition, health & agingJan 31, 2019

Anorexia linked to lower muscle mass and strength in older adults living at home

Gut-Brain Axis Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 3, 2026

Abstract

In a sample of 442 older adults, poor appetite is independently associated with lower skeletal muscle mass and decreased muscle strength.

Higher prevalence of low hand grip strength, low gait speed, and sarcopenia was found in individuals with poor appetite.
Increased occurrences of depression and constipation were also noted among those with poor appetite.
The Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire scores correlated with skeletal muscle mass index and quality of life measures.
Regression analysis indicated that lower muscle mass, lower skeletal muscle mass index, and lower hand grip strength are linked to poor appetite, independent of other factors.
Gait speed and the diagnosis of sarcopenia did not show a significant relationship with poor appetite in the regression models.

Simplified

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the association between anorexia and sarcopenia in community dwelling older adults.

METHOD: Anorexia was assessed by Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) and sarcopenia defined by EWSGOP criteria. Study participants consisted of 442 patients from Turkish validation study of the SNAQ. Study is designed as cross-sectional in community dwelling outpatients.

MEASUREMENTS: Muscle mass was determined by using bioimpedance analysis. Skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI) was calculated as SMM (kg)/height (m)2. Muscle strength was evaluated by hand grip strength (HGS) with Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer. Gait speed (GS) was assessed by usual 4 meters speed. Depression and quality of life were assessed by using Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Euro-Quality of Life-5D(EQ-5D). Univariate analysis and multivariate regression analysis were run to evaluate the association between poor appetite and components of sarcopenia.

RESULTS: Prevalences of low HGS, low gait speed and sarcopenia were higher in group with poor appetite (p=0.001, p<0.0001, p=0.036, respectively). Depression and constipation were more prevalent in participants with poor appetite (p<0.0001, p=0.033, respectively). SNAQ was correlated with SMMI and EQ-5D. Regression analysis showed that lower muscle mass, lower SMMI, and lower HGS were independently associated with poor appetite after adjustment for confounders. Neither gait speed nor diagnosis of sarcopenia was associated with poor appetite in regression analysis models.

CONCLUSION: We observed poor appetite has independent association with lower skeletal muscle mass and decreased muscle strength. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate exact relationship between poor appetite and sarcopenia.

Full Text

We can’t show the full text here under this license.

View Full Text ↗

Anorexia linked to lower muscle mass and strength in older adults living at home

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the gut-brain axis brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the gut-brain axis brief