Body Composition, IGF1 Status, and Physical Functionality in Nonagenarians: Implications for Osteosarcopenia.
Eleonora Poggiogalle, Katie E Cherry, L Joseph Su and 5 others
PMID 30149984WHAT IT FOUND
Very old adults with both low muscle and low bone density did not have worse physical function than those with either alone.
Lean mass related to function in men only, and muscle and bone measures were not linked.
Key findings
01People classified as having both osteoporosis and sarcopenia did not differ in physical function from people with normal body composition, osteoporosis only, or sarcopenia only.
02Lean mass was related to physical function in men only.
03Lean mass was not related to bone density at the hip or spine.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study was observational, so it cannot show that low muscle, low bone density, or the blood marker caused poor function. The sample was small and divided into many groups, especially when separated by sex. Physical function was measured only in a subset of participants. Sarcopenia definitions varied widely, and the authors used median values rather than agreed cutoffs. The cohort was very old and community-dwelling, so findings may not apply to younger or less robust older adults. Obesity was uncommon, so osteosarcopenic obesity was not assessed thoroughly.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The article is listed as supported by NIH and non-U.S. government research funds.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that treating osteosarcopenia or raising the blood marker would improve function. This was an observational study, and physical function did not differ among the body composition phenotypes.