Association between underweight, serum albumin levels, and height loss in the Japanese male population: a retrospective study.

Background: Previous study has shown that height loss (defined as the highest quartile of height loss per year) was inversely associated with serum albumin levels. Furthermore, comparatively healthy hyponutrition has been linked with being underweight; as such, underweight might be inversely associated with serum albumin levels and positively associated with height loss.

Methods: To clarify the associations between serum albumin level, underweight status, and height loss, we conducted a retrospective study of 8,096 men over 4.0 years (median).

Results: Serum albumin level at baseline was inversely associated with being underweight (body mass index [BMI]: < 18.5 kg/m²) at baseline and height loss. The known cardiovascular risk factor adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of underweight at baseline and of height loss for 1 standard deviation increment of serum albumin (0.28 g/dL) was 0.79 (0.70, 0.90) and 0.84 (0.80, 0.88). Underweight was also shown to be positively associated with height loss: with the reference of normal-low weight (BMI: 18.5-22.9 kg/m²), the adjusted OR (95% CI) was 1.60 (1.21, 2.10).

Conclusion: Comparative healthy hyponutrition, which is related to low serum albumin levels and being underweight, is a significant risk factor for height loss among Japanese men. These results help to clarify the mechanisms underlying height loss.