Michelle L Vidoni1, Kelley Pettee Gabriel2, Sheng T Luo3, Eleanor M Simonsick4, R Sue Day5. 1. Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Science, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health. 2. Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Science, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health in Austin. 3. Division of Biostatistics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health. 4. Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. 5. Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Science, Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health.
Abstract
Background: Decreased muscle strength is strongly associated with future mobility limitations in older adults. Homocysteine is a risk factor for vascular disease and may exacerbate muscle strength decline. The present study aimed to examine the association between homocysteine levels and muscle strength in adults aged 50 years or older. Methods: Data were from 1,101 participants of The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging between December 2004 and March 2015. Muscle strength was measured using grip strength. Mixed effects linear regression was used to estimate the association between homocysteine and muscle strength in men and women, separately. Results: Total mean follow-up time was 4.7 ± 3.1 years, range from 0 to 10.1 years. Baseline mean grip strength was 39.9 kg for men and 25.5 kg for women. Grip strength declined over the follow-up time for both men and women. Among women, there was a significant inverse relationship between homocysteine and grip strength, where grip strength declined as a function of increasing homocysteine over time (β = -0.05, p = .031). Among men, an increase of 1 μmol/L in homocysteine was associated with -0.10 kg decrease in grip strength, though not significantly. Conclusions: In this study of healthy older adults aged 50 years or older, higher homocysteine was related to lower muscle strength in women. This is the first study to characterize the relationship over a long follow-up period. Future research should focus on assessing homocysteine as a marker of physical function decline and translating the relationship into clinical and public health practice.
Background: Decreased muscle strength is strongly associated with future mobility limitations in older adults. Homocysteine is a risk factor for vascular disease and may exacerbate muscle strength decline. The present study aimed to examine the association between homocysteine levels and muscle strength in adults aged 50 years or older. Methods: Data were from 1,101 participants of The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging between December 2004 and March 2015. Muscle strength was measured using grip strength. Mixed effects linear regression was used to estimate the association between homocysteine and muscle strength in men and women, separately. Results: Total mean follow-up time was 4.7 ± 3.1 years, range from 0 to 10.1 years. Baseline mean grip strength was 39.9 kg for men and 25.5 kg for women. Grip strength declined over the follow-up time for both men and women. Among women, there was a significant inverse relationship between homocysteine and grip strength, where grip strength declined as a function of increasing homocysteine over time (β = -0.05, p = .031). Among men, an increase of 1 μmol/L in homocysteine was associated with -0.10 kg decrease in grip strength, though not significantly. Conclusions: In this study of healthy older adults aged 50 years or older, higher homocysteine was related to lower muscle strength in women. This is the first study to characterize the relationship over a long follow-up period. Future research should focus on assessing homocysteine as a marker of physical function decline and translating the relationship into clinical and public health practice.
Authors: Lydia Rolita; Roee Holtzer; Cuiling Wang; Richard B Lipton; Carol A Derby; Joe Verghese Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2010-02-11 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Helga Refsum; Eha Nurk; A David Smith; Per M Ueland; Clara G Gjesdal; Ingvar Bjelland; Aage Tverdal; Grethe S Tell; Ottar Nygård; Stein E Vollset Journal: J Nutr Date: 2006-06 Impact factor: 4.798
Authors: Bret H Goodpaster; Seok Won Park; Tamara B Harris; Steven B Kritchevsky; Michael Nevitt; Ann V Schwartz; Eleanor M Simonsick; Frances A Tylavsky; Marjolein Visser; Anne B Newman Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2006-10 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Robert Clarke; J Grimley Evans; J Schneede; E Nexo; C Bates; A Fletcher; A Prentice; C Johnston; P M Ueland; H Refsum; P Sherliker; J Birks; G Whitlock; E Breeze; J M Scott Journal: Age Ageing Date: 2004-01 Impact factor: 10.668
Authors: Dawn E Alley; Michelle D Shardell; Katherine W Peters; Robert R McLean; Thuy-Tien L Dam; Anne M Kenny; Maren S Fragala; Tamara B Harris; Douglas P Kiel; Jack M Guralnik; Luigi Ferrucci; Stephen B Kritchevsky; Stephanie A Studenski; Maria T Vassileva; Peggy M Cawthon Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2014-05 Impact factor: 6.053