Association between Healthy Eating Index-2015 scores and probable sarcopenia in community-dwelling Iranian older adults: a cross-sectional study

Sarcopenia is associated with frailty and disability in older adults. Adherence to current dietary guidelines in addition to physical activity could prevent muscle wasting and weakness. The Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI) is a tool to assess diet quality. We aimed to investigate the association between HEI scores and probable sarcopenia (PS) among older adults in Tehran. 201 randomly selected older adults were included in this cross-sectional study between May and October 2019 in Tehran, Iran. A previously validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to estimate HEI scores and dietary intake. Handgrip strength (HGS) was measured to evaluate the PS. Statistical evaluation included descriptive analysis, logistic and linear regression. Those probably suffering from sarcopenia had significantly lower HEI scores (P=0.02). After adjusting for confounders, HEI scores and HGS were still significantly associated (adjusted R-2=0.56, slope beta=0.03, P=0.09). Older adults with a low PS had a higher ratio of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids (P= 0.06) and ingested less added sugars and saturated fats (P=0.01 and P=0.02, respectively). Furthermore, consuming more total protein foods correlated positively with muscle strength (P=0.01, R=0.18). To sum up, HEI scores were associated with PS, measured by HGS, indicating that adhering to the HEI might improve muscle strength in aging individuals.