Wakana Shoya, Kabasawa Keiko, Kitamura Kaori, Watanabe Yumi, Komata Tomoyo, Ito Yumi, Takahashi Akemi, Saito Toshiko, Kobayashi Ryosaku, Oshiki Rieko, Takachi Ribeka, Tsugane Shoichiro, Watanabe Kei, Tanaka Junta, Narita Ichiei, Nakamura Kazutoshi
Division of Preventive Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences.
Department of Rehabilitation, Niigata University of Rehabilitation.
Environ Health Prev Med. 2025;30:44. doi: 10.1265/ehpm.25-00046.
The association between physical activity (PA) and sarcopenia has mostly been investigated in older people, with few studies focused on earlier life stages. The present study aimed to determine whether higher PA levels are associated with a lower sarcopenia risk in middle-aged and early older people.
This was an 8-year follow-up study. Participants were 6,500 community-dwelling adults aged 40-74 years who participated in the baseline questionnaire survey conducted in 2011-2014 in Japan. Levels of total and leisure-time PAs at baseline were assessed using validated metabolic equivalent scores. Multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis and handgrip strength measurement were performed in 2021-2022, and participants with low height-adjusted appendicular lean mass (<20th percentile) and low grip strength were diagnosed as having sarcopenia (outcome). Covariates were demographics, body size, lifestyle, and disease history at baseline.
The prevalence of sarcopenia was 137/2926 (4.7%) for men and 127/3574 (3.6%) for women. Higher total PA levels were associated with lower odds of sarcopenia (P for trend = 0.0278), with the second highest group having a significantly lower OR (0.51) than the lowest group (reference) in women, but not in men. Regarding leisure-time PA, those engaged in leisure-time vigorous PA had a lower OR of sarcopenia than those who did not (OR = 0.67, P = 0.0625).
Higher levels of total PA are associated with a lower risk of sarcopenia in women but not in men, suggesting a sex difference in this association. In addition, high levels of vigorous leisure-time PA may be effective for preventing sarcopenia.
体力活动（PA）与肌肉减少症之间的关联大多在老年人中进行研究，很少有研究关注生命早期阶段。本研究旨在确定较高的PA水平是否与中年及老年早期人群较低的肌肉减少症风险相关。
这是一项为期8年的随访研究。参与者为6500名年龄在40 - 74岁的社区居住成年人，他们参加了2011 - 2014年在日本进行的基线问卷调查。使用经过验证的代谢当量评分评估基线时的总PA水平和休闲时间PA水平。在2021 - 2022年进行多频生物电阻抗分析和握力测量，身高调整后四肢瘦体重低（<第20百分位数）且握力低的参与者被诊断为患有肌肉减少症（结局）。协变量为基线时的人口统计学特征、身体尺寸、生活方式和疾病史。
男性肌肉减少症的患病率为137/2926（4.7%），女性为127/3574（3.6%）。较高的总PA水平与较低的肌肉减少症几率相关（趋势P = 0.0278），在女性中，第二高分组的优势比（OR）显著低于最低分组（参照组），为0.51，但在男性中并非如此。关于休闲时间PA，从事休闲时间剧烈PA的人患肌肉减少症的OR低于未从事者（OR = 0.67，P = 0.0625）。
较高的总PA水平与女性较低的肌肉减少症风险相关，但与男性无关，表明在这种关联中存在性别差异。此外，高水平的休闲时间剧烈PA可能对预防肌肉减少症有效。
