Relationship between healthy eating index and sarcopenia in elderly people

Abstract Background Data on the association of Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010) with sarcopenia are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the association between adherence to AHEI-2010 and sarcopenia and its components including low muscle mass, low muscle strength, and low muscle performance among elderly people. Methods In this cross-sectional study, which was conducted on 300 older people (150 men and 150 women) aged ≥55 years. Dietary information was done using a valid 117-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). To construct AHEI-2010 score, earlier studies were used. Sarcopenia and its components were described based on both former and new European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) guidelines. Results We found no significant association between AHEI-2010 score and odds of EWGSOP2-sarcopenia, either before (OR for the highest vs. lowest tertiles: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.19, 1.55) or after (OR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.14, 1.34) adjustment for confounders. In gender-stratified analyses, we found a significant protective association between adherence to the AHEI-2010 score and odds of EWGSOP2-sarcopenia among women after controlling for confounders (0.20; 95%CI: 0.04, 0.91). Conclusions In conclusion, healthy eating was inversely associated with odds of sarcopenia among women, but not in men. Further studies with a large sample size and prospective design are needed to examine this association