Sarcopenia in Nursing Home Residents

Special nutrition intervention is required for muscle protective efficacy of physical exercise in elderly people at highest risk of sarcopenia

“…The progress of this process is vastly exacerbated by pathological risk factors, e.g., in the case of elderly residents with multiple chronic comorbidities in care or in nursing homes with higher prevalence of severe sarcopenia (3,21,22), which has been recently defined by combined diagnostic criteria (14). The progression of sarcopenia leads to further complications, such as loss of independence and life-threatening gait instability, falls, frailty syndrome, and finally death (1,18,21).…”

“…A gradual decrease in muscle mass (19,20,23) may be observed already from the age of 40-50 years, and the prevalence of sarcopenia significantly increases with advanced age (5,21,30). In institutionalized elderly people, increasing deterioration of musculature leading to progressive sarcopenia is leading risk (3,21,22). The prevalence of the different stages of the loss of muscle mass and strength ranges from 10% to 60% in the elderly people (5,21,30).…”

Frailty: Diagnosis and management

“…the loss of muscle mass, strength and power classically seen in frailty is closely associated with the development of sarcopenia (41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46). sarcopenia leads to mobility loss and a decrease in gait speed.…”

“…low 25(oH) vitamin D is commonly associated with frailty and sarcopenia (72)(73)(74)(75)(76). Vitamin D at 1000 iU daily is a minimal replacement dose (77)(78)(79)(80)(81). if 25(oH) vitamin D levels are obtained, the replacement dose should aim at circulating levels of 70nmol.…”

Should frailty be treated with testosterone?

“…Testosterone increases muscle mass by stimulating protein synthesis [12] and increases muscle strength by activating satellite cells [13]. Low dose testosterone increases muscle mass [14], whereas higher doses lead to an increase in muscle strength [15].…”