title: A path model of sarcopenia on bone mass loss in elderly subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aging is associated with decreases in muscle mass, strength, power (sarcopenia) and bone mineral density (BMD). The aims of this study were to investigate in elderly the role of sarcopenia on BMD loss by a path model, including adiposity, inflammation, and malnutrition associations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Body composition and BMD were measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry in 159 elderly subjects (52 male/107 female; mean age 80.3 yrs). Muscle strength was determined with dynamometer. Serum albumin and PCR were also assessed. Structural equations examined the effect of sarcopenia (measured by Relative Skeletal Muscle Mass, Total Muscle Mass, Handgrip, Muscle Quality Score) on osteoporosis (measured by Vertebral and Femoral T-scores) in a latent variable model including adiposity (measured by Total Fat Mass, BMI, Ginoid/Android Fat), inflammation (PCR), and malnutrition (serum albumin).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sarcopenia assumed a role of moderator in the adiposity-osteoporosis relationship. Specifically, increasing the sarcopenia, the relationship adiposity-osteoporosis (β: -0.58) decrease in intensity. Adiposity also influences sarcopenia (β: -0.18). Malnutrition affects the inflammatory and the adiposity states (β: +0.61, and β: -0.30, respectively), while not influencing the sarcopenia. Thus, adiposity has a role as a mediator of the effect of malnutrition on both sarcopenia and osteoporosis. Malnutrition decreases adiposity; decreasing adiposity, in turn, increase the sarcopenia and osteoporosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests such as in a group of elderly sarcopenia affects the link between adiposity and BMD, but not have a pure independent effect on osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: M. Rondanelli, Department of Public Health, Section of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pavia, Endocrinology and Nutrition Unit, ASP, Pavia, Italy, Tel. 0039-0382381749, fax: 0039-0382381218, e-mail: mariangela.rondanelli@unipv.it.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rondanelli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guido
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Opizzi
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Faliva
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perna
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grassi
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D050154:Adiposity; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications*; D009043:Motor Activity; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000150:complications*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin