Impact of Vitamin B12 Insufficiency on Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older Korean Adults

Seon A Chae, Hee-Sang Kim, Jong Ha Lee, Dong Hwan Yun, Jinmann Chon, Myung Chul Yoo, Yeocheon Yun, Seung Don Yoo, Dong Hwan Kim, Seung Ah Lee, Sung Joon Chung, Yunsoo Soh and Chang Won Won
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Seon A Chae: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul 02447, Korea
Hee-Sang Kim: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul 02447, Korea
Jong Ha Lee: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul 02447, Korea
Dong Hwan Yun: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul 02447, Korea
Jinmann Chon: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul 02447, Korea
Myung Chul Yoo: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul 02447, Korea
Yeocheon Yun: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul 02447, Korea
Seung Don Yoo: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul 05278, Korea
Dong Hwan Kim: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul 05278, Korea
Seung Ah Lee: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul 05278, Korea
Sung Joon Chung: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul 05278, Korea
Yunsoo Soh: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul 02447, Korea
Chang Won Won: Department of Family Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul 02447, Korea

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 23, 1-9

Abstract: Vitamin B12 (B12) is involved as a cofactor in the synthesis of myelin. A lack of B12 impairs peripheral nerve production, which can contribute to sarcopenia. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between B12 insufficiency and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older Korean adults. A total of 2325 (1112 men; 1213 women) adults aged 70–84 years were recruited. The tools used for sarcopenia were based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) guidelines. Individuals with low appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) (<7.0 kg/m 2 for men; <5.4 kg/m 2 for women) and low hand grip strength (HGS) (<28 kg for men; <18 kg for women) were defined as the sarcopenia group. Among this group, those who showed low physical performance (≤9 points on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)) were defined as the severe sarcopenia group. B12 concentrations were classified into insufficient (<350 pg/mL) and sufficient (≥350 pg/mL). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between sarcopenia and B12 levels. Low ASMI showed a high incidence in the B12-insufficient group. However, HGS, SPPB, and the severity of sarcopenia showed no correlation with B12. Further, insufficient B12 may affect muscle quantity rather than muscle strength or physical performance.

Keywords: vitamin B12; sarcopenia; aging; walking speed; hand grip strength (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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