Skeletal muscle mass and body fat in relation to successful ageing of older adults: The multi-national MEDIS study.
The determinants that promote successful ageing still remain unknown. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the role of skeletal muscle mass and body fat percentage (BF%), in the level of successful ageing.



during 2005-2011, 2663 older (aged 65-100 years) from 21 Mediterranean islands and the rural Mani region (Peloponnesus) of Greece were voluntarily enrolled in the study. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and BF% were calculated using population formulas. Dietary habits, energy intake, expenditure and energy balance were derived throughout standard procedures. A successful ageing index ranging from 0 to 10 was used.



The mean ASM mass was 24±6.0kg, the SMI was 0.84±0.21 and the BF% was 44%. Females had lower SMI and higher BF% in comparison with males, respectively [(SMI: 0.66±0.09 vs. 1.03±0.11; BF%: 51% vs. 34%, (p<0.001)]. High successful agers had better rates in ASM (p=0.01), SMI (p<0.001) and BF% (p<0.001), compared with the medium and low successful ones. Changes in SMI [b-coefficient (95% CI):2.14 (1.57 to 2.71)] were positively associated with successful ageing, while changes in BF% [b-coefficient (95% CI): -0.04 (-0.05 to -0.03)] were inversely associated with successful ageing. Results from sensitivity analysis showed that the effects of variations on body composition were consistent, less pronounced in the positive energy balance group and more pronounced among the oldest old.



Body composition changes seem to be associated with lower quality of life in the older adults, as measured through successful ageing.
Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERSAM, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Stefanos
S
Tyrovolas
Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERSAM, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Josep-Maria
JM
Haro
Health Center of Aeropolis, General Hospital of Sparta, Aeropolis, Greece.
Anargiros
A
Mariolis
University of Malta, Nutrition, Family and Consumer Studies Office, Msida, Malta.
Suzanne
S
Piscopo
Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Valacchi
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Vassiliki
V
Bountziouka
Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
Foteini
F
Anastasiou
Health Center of Kalloni, General Hospital of Mitilini, Mitilini, Greece.
Akis
A
Zeimbekis
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Dimitra
D
Tyrovola
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Alexandra
A
Foscolou
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Efthimios
E
Gotsis
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
George
G
Metallinos
Research Group on Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress, Universitat de les Illes Balears & CIBERobn, Guillem Colom Bldg, Campus, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
Josep-Antoni
JA
Tur
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Antonia
A
Matalas
Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
Christos
C
Lionis
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Evangelos
E
Polychronopoulos
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: dbpanag@hua.gr.
Demosthenes
D
Panagiotakos
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019083:Mediterranean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D011788:Quality of Life; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000453:epidemiology
Appendicular skeletal muscle mass; Body fat; Energy balance; Older adults; Successful ageing