Association between metabolic indices and the prevalence of sarcopenia in older adults: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Sarcopenia—the progressive decline in skeletal muscle mass and function—is a major hurdle for aging societies, often leading to physical disability and a loss of independence. In this study, we evaluated 162 participants over the age of 60 to determine if simple metabolic tools, specifically the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI), Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP), and Cardiometabolic Index (CMI), could help identify individuals with sarcopenia. We found that aging involves a problematic shift in body composition: even when a person’s weight or BMI remains stable, visceral fat often accumulates while muscle tissue wastes away. Our analysis shows that VAI and LAP are strongly and independently associated with sarcopenia. Notably, these indices provide a much clearer picture of health risks than BMI alone, as BMI fails to account for how fat is actually distributed. We also observed distinct sex-related differences; while men typically showed higher lipid accumulation and muscle strength, the link between muscle mass and metabolic health was more pronounced in women. Ultimately, incorporating VAI and LAP into routine geriatric assessments could serve as useful tools for identifying muscle loss in routine assessments. This would enable clinicians to implement targeted dietary and exercise interventions sooner, which is essential for helping older adults maintain their functional capacity.