Association of Fibre Intake and Serum Acetate With Measures of Sarcopenia in Postmenopausal Women: The OSTPRE-FPS Study

Background

Sarcopenia leads to a decrease in muscle mass, strength and physical performance. Dietary fibre and its exogenous biomarker acetate may be linked to measures of sarcopenia. Thus, we explored the relationships of dietary (soluble/insoluble) fibre and serum acetate with skeletal muscle health and body composition in women aged > 65 years.

Methods

In this cross-sectional Osteoporosis Risk Factor and Prevention-Fracture Prevention Study (OSTPRE-FPS) study, we analysed with linear regression the associations of dietary fibre and serum acetate (measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) with measures of sarcopenia such as body mass index (BMI), total lean mass, fat mass, appendicular skeletal muscle index, gait speed, grip strength, chair stand test, leg extension strength and grip strength-to-BMI ratio.

Results

In model 3, adjusted for energy and protein intake, age, hormonal therapy, type 2 diabetes, physical activity and smoking, a negative association between dietary soluble fibre and BMI (β = −0.113, p = 0.04) and a positive association between serum acetate concentrations and grip strength-to-BMI ratio (β = 0.093, p = 0.04) were detected. Dietary fibre and serum acetate as a combined independent variable were linked with both BMI (β = −0.101, p = 0.04) and grip strength-to-BMI ratio (β = 0.136, p < 0.01). BMI was more strongly influenced by soluble fibre (β = −0.107, p = 0.03), whereas grip strength-to-BMI ratio predominantly by insoluble fibre (β = 0.138, p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Future longitudinal studies are warranted to explore links between dietary fibre intake and serum or muscle acetate with muscle health in older adults.