Relationship between myostatin, musclin, nutritional status, and functionality in older Colombian community-dwelling adults: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: Aging-associated body composition changes lead to a decrease in muscle mass and strength, affecting the functionality of older adults. Myostatin and musclin are myokines that regulate muscle metabolism and may modulate muscle changes during aging. Our objective was to determine the relationship between myostatin, musclin, and nutritional status with physical functionality in older adults. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of a subsample of a stratified random sampling population survey in community-dwelling 60-90-year-old adults of both sexes. Serum myostatin and musclin concentrations were measured using MILLIPLEX technology (Merck Millipore, USA). Trained personnel recorded body mass index (BMI), and waist (WC), calf (CC), and arm (AC) circumferences as indicators of nutritional status. Functionality tests included handgrip strength (GS), walking speed (WS), and Advanced Activities of Daily Living. RESULTS: Of 101 participants, 55.4% were women, 56.4% were between 60 and 69 years old, 53.5% had abdominal obesity, 23.8% had dynapenia, and 33.7% had low WS. Neither myostatin nor musclin showed significant changes from 60 to 90 years. In a multiple lineal regression model, myostatin showed an inverse correlation with BMI, CC, and AC in men (P < 0.05) but did not explain GS or WS. In a similar analysis, musclin and WC showed an inverse correlation with GS (P < 0.05). Moreover, myostatin was lower in the more physically active men (P < 0.05) but musclin did not show any relationship with the Advanced Activities of Daily Living scale. CONCLUSIONS: Myostatin and musclin do not decrease with aging and are associated with nutritional and metabolic status. Musclin is associated with dynapenic obesity in older adults.