PD112 - DIETARY PATTERNS AND LOW SKELETAL MUSCLE MASS AMONG COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS IN TAIWAN

PD112

DIETARY PATTERNS AND LOW SKELETAL MUSCLE MASS AMONG COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS IN TAIWAN

C.-H. Huang^1,* on behalf of Yen-Tsz,Chen, Y.-T. Chen¹

¹Nutrition room, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yun-lin, Douliu, Taiwan, Province of China

Rationale:      Sarcopenia is a major public health issue associated with functional decline. Low skeletal muscle mass (SMI) has been linked to lower BMI and muscle mass. Dietary patterns may play a key role, but evidence in Taiwanese older adults is limited.

Methods:      This cross-sectional study included 37 community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. Participants were classified by sex-specific SMI cut-offs. Dietary intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Group comparisons and Spearman’s correlation were performed.

Results:     Eight participants (21.6%) were classified as low SMI and 29 (78.4%) as non-low SMI. No significant differences were observed in baseline characteristics. Low SMI was associated with lower BMI and muscle mass. In the non-low SMI group, body fat percentage was positively associated with ultra-processed food intake.

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Conclusion:        Low skeletal muscle mass was associated with lower BMI and reduced lower limb muscle mass. Egg intake may represent an important dietary factor. Sarcopenia in Taiwanese older adults may reflect dietary imbalance rather than absolute protein deficiency. Increasing protein-rich food intake, optimizing protein distribution across meals, and promoting dietary diversity may be feasible strategies for early prevention.

References: 1.Association of diet quality and quantity with the risk of sarcopenia based on the Chinese diet balance index 2022,

Front. Nutr., 27 May 2025 Sec. Nutritional Epidemiology Volume 12 - 2025

2.Evaluation of Dietary Guideline Adherence and Risk of Sarcopenia in Elder Taiwanese,Food Sci Nutr. 2025 May 26;13(6):e70343. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.70343

Disclosure of Interest: C.-H. Huang Grant / Research Support from: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., Y.-T. Chen Grant / Research Support from: National Taiwan University Hospital, Yun-lin, Taiwan