A 3-year longitudinal study on body composition changes in the elderly: Role of physical exercise

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• 作者：Comasia Addolorata Raguso ; Ursula Kyle ; Michel Picard Kossovsky ; Catherine Roynette ; Ariane Paoloni-Giacobino ; Didier Hans ; Laurence Genton ; Claude Pichard
• 关键词：Body composition ; Elderly ; Muscle mass ; Total body potassium ; Physical activity
• 刊名：Clinical Nutrition
• 出版年：2006
• 出版时间：August 2006
• 年：2006
• 卷：25
• 期：4
• 页码：573-580
• 全文大小：183 K

文摘

Cross-sectional data have shown that sarcopenia and fat accumulation are associated with aging and can be limited by structured physical training. However, it is often difficult to maintain a long-term compliance to training programs. It is not clear whether leisure-time physical activity is effective in preventing sarcopenia and fat accumulation.

Objectives

(i) To investigate longitudinal body composition changes in a population of elderly people in good apparent health. (ii) To evaluate the impact of leisure-time physical activity on muscle mass and characteristic as reflected by total body potassium per fat-free soft tissue (TBK/FFST), and on fat accumulation.

Design

Longitudinal evaluation over 3 years, of body composition changes in 74 healthy men and 66 women, over 65 years old. Body fat and FFST were analyzed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and TBK by whole-body ⁴⁰K counter. Physical activity was analyzed by a specific questionnaire.

Results

Despite a stable total body weight, FFST and appendicular skeletal muscle mass slightly decreased (−0.3±1.4 and −0.2±2.2 kg, P<0.01, respectively) as well as the TBK/FFST (−4.1±6.3 mmol/kg, P<0.001), over the 3-year period. Body fat increased significantly (0.6±2.2 kg, P<0.0001), and it accumulated mainly in the abdomen (0.4±1.5 kg, P<0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed that body composition changes were related mainly to body weight changes. Nevertheless, positive linear correlations were observed between the degree of engagement in leisure-time physical activity and FFST (P<0.01), appendicular skeletal muscle mass (P<0.05), TBK/FFST (P<0.05), whereas negative correlation was observed with total and truncal fat (P<0.01).

Conclusions

Mild but significant decline in muscle mass and its TBK content, and body fat accumulation were observed over a 3-year period in healthy elderly subject: leisure-time physical activity does not seem to prevent them. However, a higher level of physical activity is associated with higher muscle mass and TBK content, and less total and truncal fat.