Physical activity and fiber intake beneficial for muscle mass and strength preservation during aging: A comprehensive cross-sectional study in the UK biobank cohort.

BACKGROUND: Aging triggers intricate physiological changes, particularly in whole-body fat-free mass (FFM) and handgrip strength, affecting overall health and independence. Despite existing research, the broader significance of how muscle health is affected by the intricate interplay of lifestyle factors simultaneously during aging needs more exploration. This study aims to examine how nutrition, physical activity, and sleep impact on FFM and handgrip strength in middle-aged men and women, facilitating future personalized recommendations for preserving muscle health. METHODS: The cross-sectional analysis of the UK Biobank involved 45,984 individuals (54 % women) aged 40-70 years with a complete dataset. Multiple linear regression explored determinants of FFM and handgrip strength, considering traditional, socio-demographics, medication use and smoking as covariates, with sex and age (younger and older than 55 years) stratifications. RESULTS: In older men and women, higher physical activity beneficially affect both FFM (respectively Β = 3.36 × 10-3, p-value = 1.66 × 10-3; Β = 2.52 × 10-3, p-value = 3.57 × 10-4) and handgrip strength (Β = 6.05 × 10-3, p-value = 7.99 × 10-5, Β = 8.98 × 10-3, p-value = 2.95 × 10-15). Similar results were found in fiber intake for FFM in older men and women (respectively B = 3.00 × 10-2, p-value = 2.76 × 10-5; B = 2.68 × 10-2, p-value = 1.78 × 10-9) and handgrip strength (Β = 3.27 × 10-2, p-value = 1.40 × 10-3; Β = 3.12 × 10-2, p-value = 1.34 × 10-5). Other lifestyle factors influence FFM and handgrip strength differently. Key determinants influencing handgrip strength included higher protein intake, lower water intake, higher alcohol intake, and extended sleep duration whereas mainly higher water intake is associated with higher FFM. CONCLUSIONS: In both men and women, the main factors associated with FFM and handgrip strength are physical activity and fiber intake, which may underlie a connection between gut and muscle health. Given the observed complexity of muscle health in the age and sex strata, further longitudinal research is needed to provide personalized lifestyle recommendations.

Sarcopenia is linked to higher levels of B-type natriuretic peptide and its N-terminal fragment in heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: Sarcopenia is linked to impaired physical function and exercise tolerance. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the association of sarcopenia and low appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM) with biomarkers of cardiac function, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and its N-terminal fragment (NT-proBNP), in patients with heart failure (HF). METHODS AND RESULTS: From inception until May 2023, a systematic literature search of observational studies was undertaken utilizing the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases. A meta-analysis employing a random-effects model was used to compute the pooled effects (CRD42023418465). Overall, 16 studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Our main analysis showed that sarcopenia in HF was linked to significantly higher levels of BNP (MD: 87.76, 95% CI 20.74-154.78, I2 = 61%, P = 0.01) and NT-proBNP (MD: 947.45, 95% CI 98.97-1795.93, I2 = 35%, P = 0.03). Similarly, low ASM was associated with significantly higher levels of BNP (MD: 118.95, 95% CI 46.91-191.00, I2 = 93%, P < 0.01) and NT-proBNP (MD: 672.01, 95% CI 383.72-960.30, I2 = 2%, P < 0.01). The quality of the included cohort studies was considered moderate, using the binary AXIS checklist and the Cochrane Tool to Assess the Risk of Bias in Cohort Studies. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with HF, sarcopenia and reduced ASM are associated with considerably higher plasma levels of BNP and NT-proBNP. Future research is required to investigate whether sarcopenia may express dysregulated biomarkers of cardiac function.

Does omega-3 supplementation improve the inflammatory profile of patients with heart failure? a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Omega-3 fatty acids are potential anti-inflammatory agents that may exert beneficial outcomes in diseases characterised by increased inflammatory profile. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the existing research on the effectiveness of n-3 fatty acid supplementation in lowering levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines in patients with heart failure (HF). From the beginning until October 2022, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were the subject of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library literature search. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation vs. placebo were compared in eligible RCTs to see how they affected patients with HF in terms of inflammation, primarily of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and c-reactive protein (CRP). A meta-analysis employing the random effects inverse-variance model and standardised mean differences was performed to assess group differences. Ten studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Our main analysis (k = 5) revealed a beneficial response of n-3 fatty acid supplementation on serum TNF-a (SMD: - 1.13, 95% CI: - 1.75- - 0.50, I2 = 81%, P = 0.0004) and IL-6 levels (k = 4; SMD: - 1.27, 95% CI: - 1.88- - 0.66, I2 = 81%, P < 0.0001) compared to placebo; however, no changes were observed in relation to CRP (k = 6; SMD: - 0.14, 95% CI: - 0.35-0.07, I2 = 0%, P = 0.20). Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may be a useful strategy for reducing inflammation in patients with HF, but given the paucity of current studies, future studies may increase the reliability of these findings.

Impact of probiotics on muscle mass, muscle strength and lean mass: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Probiotics have shown potential to counteract sarcopenia, although the extent to which they can influence domains of sarcopenia such as muscle mass and strength in humans is unclear. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to explore the impact of probiotic supplementation on muscle mass, total lean mass and muscle strength in human adults. A literature search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library from inception until June 2022. Eligible RCTs compared the effect of probiotic supplementation versus placebo on muscle and total lean mass and global muscle strength (composite score of all muscle strength outcomes) in adults (>18 years). To evaluate the differences between groups, a meta-analysis was conducted using the random effects inverse-variance model by utilizing standardized mean differences. Twenty-four studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis exploring the effects of probiotics on muscle mass, total lean mass and global muscle strength. Our main analysis (k = 10) revealed that muscle mass was improved following probiotics compared with placebo (SMD: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.10-0.74, I2  = 57%, P = 0.009), although no changes were revealed in relation to total lean mass (k = 12; SMD: -0.03, 95% CI: -0.19 - 0.13, I2  = 0%, P = 0.69). Interestingly, a significant increase in global muscle strength was also observed among six RCTs (SMD: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.33-1.06, I2  = 64%, P = 0.0002). Probiotic supplementation enhances both muscle mass and global muscle strength; however, no beneficial effects were observed in total lean mass. Investigating the physiological mechanisms underpinning different ageing groups and elucidating appropriate probiotic strains for optimal gains in muscle mass and strength are warranted.

Gut microbiome changes due to sleep disruption in older and younger individuals: a case for sarcopenia?

Major hallmarks of functional loss, loss of metabolic and musculoskeletal health and (multi)morbidity with aging are associated with sleep disturbances. With poor sleep shifts in gut microbial composition commonly manifest, which could mediate the pro-inflammatory state between sleep disturbances and sarcopenia. This systematic review presents the recent evidence on how sleep disturbances throughout the lifespan associate with and contribute to gut microbial composition changes, proposing a mechanism to understand the etiology of sarcopenia through sleep disturbances. The relationship between disturbed sleep and clinically relevant gut microbiota composition on health aspects of aging is discussed. A search was performed in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science using keywords including (microbio* OR microflora) AND (sleep OR sleep disorder). Six cross-sectional population-based studies and five experimental clinical trials investigating healthy individuals with ages ranging from 4 to 71 were included. The cross-sectional studies reported similarities in associations with sleep disturbance and gut microbial diversity. In older adults, shorter sleep duration is associated with an increase in pro-inflammatory bacteria whereas increasing sleep quality is positively associated with an increase of beneficial Verrucomicrobia and Lentisphaerae phyla. In young adults, the effect of sleep disruption on gut microbiome composition, specifically the ratio of beneficial Firmicutes over Bacteroidetes phyla, remains contradictory and unclear. The findings of this review warrant further research in the modulation of the gut microbiome linking poor sleep with muscle-catabolic consequences throughout the lifespan.