Sarcopenia: definition, epidemiology, and pathophysiology

Tae Nyun Kim, Kyung Mook Choi, Tae Nyun Kim, Kyung Mook Choi

Abstract

The epidemiological trends that characterize our generation are the aging of the population. Aging results in a progressive loss of muscle mass and strength called sarcopenia, which is Greek for 'poverty of flesh'. Sarcopenia could lead to functional impairment, physical disability, and even mortality. Today, sarcopenia is a matter of immense public concern for aging prevention. Its prevalence continues to rise, probably as a result of increasing elderly populations all over the world. This paper addressed the definition and epidemiology of sarcopenia and its underlying pathophysiology. In addition, we summarized the abundant information available in the literature related to sarcopenia, together with results from Korean sarcopenic obesity study (KSOS) that we performed.

Keywords: Aging; Body composition; Muscle mass; Sarcopenia; Sarcopenic obesity.

Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The difference of prevalence of the metabolic syndrome between subjects with sarcopenic obesity and normal subjects classified using two different definitions of sarcopenic obesity. [Reprinted from "Prevalence of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity in Korean adults: the Korean sarcopenic obesity study", by Kim TN, Yang SJ, Yoo HJ, et al., 2009, Int J Obes (Lond), 33, p.890. Copyright 2009 by the Nature Publishing Group. Reprinted with permission].
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mechanisms of sarcopenia. [Reprinted from "Sarcopenia: European consensus on definition and diagnosis: Report of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People", by Cruz-Jentoft AJ, Baeyens JP, Bauer JM, et al., 2010, Age Ageing, 39, p.414. Copyright 2010 by the Oxford University Press. Reprinted with permission].
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Interplay between adipokines and myokines. [Reprinted from "Adipokines, myokines and cardiovascular disease", by Walsh K, 2009, Circ J, 73, p.14. Copyright 2009 by the Japanese Circulation Society. Reprinted with permission].

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Source: PubMed

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