Dynapenia and Metabolic Health in Obese and Nonobese Adults Aged 70 Years and Older: The LIFE Study.
Mylène Aubertin-Leheudre, Stephen Anton, Daniel P Beavers and 10 others
PMID 27914851WHAT IT FOUND
Low grip strength was not associated with worse metabolic risk in adults aged 70 and older.
Metabolic syndrome, glucose, HDL, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure did not differ.
Key findings
01In the 1453 participants analysed, metabolic syndrome, glucose, HDL, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure did not differ across dynapenia and obesity status.
02Non-dynapenic obese participants had higher waist circumference and diastolic blood pressure than dynapenic obese participants.
03Odds of metabolic syndrome were not different between obese and non-obese groups, even when combined with dynapenia.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The analysis is cross-sectional, so it cannot show whether low grip strength causes, results from, or is unrelated to metabolic risk. Only handgrip strength was measured, so it may not represent whole-body strength. No body composition or muscle biopsy data were available to test the authors' explanations. The study did not examine physical function outcomes, which are often the main concern for therapists. The authors call the results preliminary.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that low grip strength protects metabolic health. The study is cross-sectional, used only handgrip strength, and cannot show cause or effect.