AI Article Synopsis

  • Older adults accumulate more sodium in their skeletal muscles, which may affect their muscular and physical function.
  • A study with 4,867 participants aged around 60 analyzed the connection between salt intake and muscle strength/performance through grip strength tests and timed activities.
  • Higher salt intake was linked to reduced grip strength and slower performance on physical tests, particularly in women, suggesting that a low-salt diet might help maintain muscle strength in the elderly.

Article Abstract

Older people have higher amounts of sodium accumulation in skeletal muscles than younger people, indicating the possible role of salt intake on muscular and physical function. This large population-based cross-sectional study examined the association of salt intake with muscle strength and physical performance in 4867 participants with an average age of 60.4 (standard deviation = 7.7) years. Information on salt intake was collected from self-reports. Absolute and relative grip strength (AGS and RGS), timed up-and-go test (TUGT), and falls were considered the indicators of muscle strength and physical performance. Linear and logistic regression were used to examine the associations of salt intake with AGS, RGS, TUGT score, and falls, adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors, body mass index, self-rated health, and self-reported hypertension. Higher salt intake was independently associated with lower grip strength and a higher TUGT score. Versus light salt intake, the adjusted β (95% confidence interval (CI)) of AGS, RGS, and TUGT scores in those with salty taste were -0.53 (-0.97, -0.08) kg, -0.04 (-0.06, -0.02) kg per kg/m, and 0.08 (0.02, 0.14) s, respectively. A non-significant association was found between salt intake and falls. In sex-stratification analysis, the association remained in women but became non-significant in men. Our results suggest that avoiding high-salt diets may play a role in preserving muscle strength and physical function in the elderly, especially in women.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9919999PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu15030516DOI Listing

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