Sarcopenia and triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio in older Japanese adults

Background.Insulin resistance is a risk factor for sarcopenia.The triglycerides (TG)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio is an indirect indicator of insulin resistance.We aimed to assess the association between sarcopenia and the TG/HDL-C ratio in Japanese older adults.Methods: Older adults in Wakasa town, Fukui, Japan, were examined between June 2019 and November 2021.We collected data regarding age, sex, height, weight, body mass index, muscle mass, fat mass, muscle mass to fat mass ratio, appendicular lean muscle mass, skeletal muscle mass index, glycated haemoglobin, TG, HDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, TG/HDL-C ratio, 5-m gait speed, and grip strength (both sides).Sarcopenia was defined in accordance with the 2019 criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia via grip strength, gait speed, and skeletal muscle indices. Results:In total, 65 men and 93 women (mean age, 78 years) were classified as normal (n=114), pre-sarcopenic (n=35), or sarcopenic (n=9).Compared with the normal and pre-sarcopenia groups, the sarcopenia group had the lowest HDL-C level (p=0.013) and highest TG/HDL-C ratio (p=0.008).Risk factors associated with sarcopenia were age (odds ratio=1.35,p=0.002) and the TG/HDL-C ratio (odds ratio=1.62,p=0.008). Conclusions:Older age and an elevated TG/HDL-C ratio are risk factors for sarcopenia.An elevated TG/HDL-C ratio may indicate progression from pre-sarcopenia to sarcopenia.