Shuhei Onishi1, Nobuyuki Miyai2, Yan Zhang3, Toshifumi Oka1, Eriko Nogami1, Miyoko Utsumi4, Mikio Arita5. 1. Graduate School of Health and Nursing Science, Wakayama Medical University, 580 Mikazura, P.O. Box 641-0011, Wakayama, Japan. 2. Graduate School of Health and Nursing Science, Wakayama Medical University, 580 Mikazura, P.O. Box 641-0011, Wakayama, Japan. miyain@wakayama-med.ac.jp. 3. Graduate School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan. 4. Wakayama Faculty of Nursing, Tokyo Healthcare University, Wakayama, Japan. 5. Department of Cardiology, Sumiya Rehabilitation Hospital, Wakayama, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Excessive alcohol intake complicated by liver dysfunction has been presumed to affect skeletal muscles. This study aimed to examine the association between excessive alcohol intake, liver fibrosis, and loss of skeletal muscle mass in elderly men. METHODS: The study participants comprised 799 community-dwelling elderly men (age, 71 ± 3 years) with no history of treatment for liver disease. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was performed to estimate the appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) of each participant. The ASM values were also normalized for height (ASM index). Liver fibrosis was evaluated using the Fib4 index, which was calculated using participant age, AST level, ALT level, and platelet count. Usual alcohol intake was estimated based on the type of alcohol, frequency of drinking, and amount of alcohol consumed per day. RESULTS: Among the excess drinkers (≥ 20 g/day), the ASM index of the subgroup with liver fibrosis (Fib4 index ≥ 2.67) was significantly lower than that of the subgroup with no liver fibrosis (Fib4 index < 2.67). However, no significant difference between the subgroups was found in the non-drinkers and moderate drinkers (< 20 g/day). In multiple regression analysis, the Fib4 index was significantly associated with the ASM index, independent of potential confounding factors. The association between the Fib4 index and ASM index was more pronounced in excess drinkers than in non-drinkers and moderate drinkers. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that liver fibrosis is associated with loss of skeletal muscle mass in elderly men, and excessive alcohol intake combined with liver fibrosis may lead to greater muscle mass reduction than each individual condition.
BACKGROUND: Excessive alcohol intake complicated by liver dysfunction has been presumed to affect skeletal muscles. This study aimed to examine the association between excessive alcohol intake, liver fibrosis, and loss of skeletal muscle mass in elderly men. METHODS: The study participants comprised 799 community-dwelling elderly men (age, 71 ± 3 years) with no history of treatment for liver disease. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was performed to estimate the appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) of each participant. The ASM values were also normalized for height (ASM index). Liver fibrosis was evaluated using the Fib4 index, which was calculated using participant age, AST level, ALT level, and platelet count. Usual alcohol intake was estimated based on the type of alcohol, frequency of drinking, and amount of alcohol consumed per day. RESULTS: Among the excess drinkers (≥ 20 g/day), the ASM index of the subgroup with liver fibrosis (Fib4 index ≥ 2.67) was significantly lower than that of the subgroup with no liver fibrosis (Fib4 index < 2.67). However, no significant difference between the subgroups was found in the non-drinkers and moderate drinkers (< 20 g/day). In multiple regression analysis, the Fib4 index was significantly associated with the ASM index, independent of potential confounding factors. The association between the Fib4 index and ASM index was more pronounced in excess drinkers than in non-drinkers and moderate drinkers. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that liver fibrosis is associated with loss of skeletal muscle mass in elderly men, and excessive alcohol intake combined with liver fibrosis may lead to greater muscle mass reduction than each individual condition.
Authors: Roger A Fielding; Bruno Vellas; William J Evans; Shalender Bhasin; John E Morley; Anne B Newman; Gabor Abellan van Kan; Sandrine Andrieu; Juergen Bauer; Denis Breuille; Tommy Cederholm; Julie Chandler; Capucine De Meynard; Lorenzo Donini; Tamara Harris; Aimo Kannt; Florence Keime Guibert; Graziano Onder; Dimitris Papanicolaou; Yves Rolland; Daniel Rooks; Cornel Sieber; Elisabeth Souhami; Sjors Verlaan; Mauro Zamboni Journal: J Am Med Dir Assoc Date: 2011-03-04 Impact factor: 4.669
Authors: Alfonso J Cruz-Jentoft; Francesco Landi; Stéphane M Schneider; Clemente Zúñiga; Hidenori Arai; Yves Boirie; Liang-Kung Chen; Roger A Fielding; Finbarr C Martin; Jean-Pierre Michel; Cornel Sieber; Jeffrey R Stout; Stephanie A Studenski; Bruno Vellas; Jean Woo; Mauro Zamboni; Tommy Cederholm Journal: Age Ageing Date: 2014-09-21 Impact factor: 10.668