Physical Activity Reduces the Incidence of Sarcopenia in Middle-Aged Adults

Purpose of the Research The aim of this study was to investigate associations between physical activity and risk of sarcopenia in middle-aged adults. Methods This was a longitudinal study based on a subset of UK Biobank data consisting of 1,918 participants (902 men and 1,016 women, mean age 56 years) who had no sarcopenia at baseline based on the criteria of European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2). The participants were assessed again after 6 years at follow-up, and were categorized into no sarcopenia, probable sarcopenia, or sarcopenia using EWGSOP2. Physical activity was assessed at baseline using 7-day acceleration data that were analysed to obtain physical activity dose at different intensities. Multinominal logistic regression was employed to examine the association between the incidence of sarcopenia and physical activity dose, between baseline and follow up, controlled for other factors at baseline including age, sex, BMI, smoking status, intake of alcohol, vitamin D and calcium, history of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, secondary osteoporosis, and type 2 diabetes. Results Among the 1918 participants with no sarcopenia at baseline, 230 (69 men and 161 women) developed probable sarcopenia and 37 (14 men and 23 women) developed sarcopenia at follow-up. Logistic regression models showed that increase in physical activity dose at moderate-to-vigorous intensity significantly reduced the risk of sarcopenia (odds ratio=0.368, p<0.05), but not probable sarcopenia (odds ratio=0.974, p>0.05), while physical activity dose at light or very light activity intensity were not associated with the risk of sarcopenia or probable sarcopenia (p>0.05). Conclusions Physical activity at moderate-to-vigorous intensity could reduce risk of sarcopenia in middle-aged adults.