Association of the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean diets with indices of sarcopenia in elderly women, OSPTRE-FPS study.

Purpose: To examine whether higher adherence to Baltic Sea diet (BSD) and Mediterranean diet (MED) have beneficial association with sarcopenia indices in elderly women.

Methods: In total 554 women, aged 65-72 years belonging to OSTPRE-FPS study answered a questionnaire on lifestyle factors and 3-day food record at baseline in 2002. Food consumptions and nutrient intakes were calculated. Nine components were selected to calculate BSD score. MED score was calculated using eight components. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Physical function measures included walking speed 10 m, chair rises, one leg stance, knee extension, handgrip strength and squat at baseline and at year 3. Sarcopenia and short physical performance battery (SPPB) score were defined based on the European working group on sarcopenia criteria. Lower body muscle quality (LBMQ) was calculated as walking speed 10 m/leg muscle mass.

Results: Women in the higher quartiles of BSD and MED scores lost less relative skeletal muscle index and total body lean mass (LM) over 3-year follow-up (P  ≤ 0.034). At the baseline, women in the higher BSD score quartiles had greater LM, faster walking speed 10 m, greater LBMQ, higher SPPB score (P  ≤ 0.034), and higher proportion of squat test completion. Similarly, women in the higher quartiles of MED sore had significantly faster walking speed 10 m, greater LBMQ (P  ≤ 0.041) and higher proportion of squat test completion.

Conclusions: Better diet quality as measured by higher adherence to BSD and MED might reduce the risk of sarcopenia in elderly women.