Associations of fiber intake and acid-base load in diet with risk of sarcopenia in Korean postmenopausal women: Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008~2011)

Sarcopenia is age-related loss of muscle mass and function. Adequate nutritional intake in the elderly population has been emphasized to prevent sarcopenia. This study was conducted to analyze the association between sarcopenia and food and nutrients intake, especially dietary fiber intake and acid-base load among Korean postmenopausal women, based on the 2008~2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study subjects were 1,527 postmenopausal women (aged 50~64 years). Sarcopenia was defined as an appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) divided by weight (%) that was less than two standard deviations below the sex-specific mean for healthy young adults. Dietary variables were assessed using data from the 24-recall method. When compared with the control, the sarcopenic group had significantly lower intake of fruits and vegetables, as well as a lower ratio of fruits and vegetables to potential acidogenic foods (meats, fish, dairy foods, eggs and cereal foods). In addition, the sarcopenic group consumed less fiber, niacin, calcium, phosphorous, and potassium than the control group. After adjustment for age, BMI, waist circumference, and energy intake, those in the highest tertile of fiber intake had an odds ratio for sarcopenia of 0.47 (95% confidence interval=0.25~0.89; P for trend=0.024) compared with participants in the lowest tertile. In conclusion, it is essential to consume sufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables as well as to maintain an adequate acid-base balance to protect against sarcopenia.