Energy and nutrient intake by people with and without sarcopenia diagnosed by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Context: There is growing evidence that insufficient dietary intake is associated with sarcopenia.

Objective: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the energy and nutrient intakes by people with and without sarcopenia were compared using only the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2010 (EWGSOP1) and 2019 (EWGSOP2) consensus diagnostic criteria.

Data sources: Only observational studies that compared energy and nutrient intake from food alone by individuals with and without sarcopenia were included. Studies were searched in the following databases: Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Lilacs, Ovid, and Scopus. The review followed the PRISMA checklist and submitted the protocol to PROSPERO.

Data extraction: Data were extracted by 2 authors independently. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale.

Data analysis: A total of 8648 articles were identified and 12 were selected. Among individuals with sarcopenia, lower intakes of energy and some nutrients, mainly with antioxidant properties, were observed compared with those without sarcopenia. Meta-analyses showed that individuals with sarcopenia consume fewer calories/day than individuals without sarcopenia (n = 10 studies; standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.15; 95% confidence interval: -0.29, -0.01) diagnosed by EWGSOP1 and EWGSOP2. Individuals with sarcopenia consume less omega-3, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, and vitamins C, D, and E when compared with those without sarcopenia.

Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that insufficient intake of energy and nutrients with antioxidant potential may be associated with sarcopenia.

Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registration no. CRD 42020195698.

Keywords: energy; meta-analysis; nutrients; sarcopenia.