The correlation between the serum calcium/magnesium level ratio, body composition and sarcopenia in older adult women using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry

Abstract

Sarcopenia is characterized by a loss of muscle mass and strength, as well as a decrease in physical performance. Furthermore, it can occur in old age and also in various pathological conditions. Ageing can lead to a deficiency of certain minerals, such as Calcium (Ca) and Magnesium (Mg), which contribute to muscle metabolism and function. The amount of these minerals consumed in the diet plays a vital role in reabsorption, inflammation and various physiological activities. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the correlation between the serum Ca/Mg ratio in elderly women with sarcopenia. A cross-sectional design was employed with an observational approach, which included twenty-eight participants aged 60 years and above. Subsequently, the body composition was determined using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA), while the gait speed and handgrip tests were performed using the Asian Working Group of Sarcopenia (AWGS) algorithm, which identified ten participants with sarcopenia and eighteen participants without the condition. The results showed that the mean serum calcium levels, mean serum magnesium levels and mean serum Ca/Mg ratio in participants with and without sarcopenia were 9.42±0.50 mg/dl and 9.63±0.42 mg/dl, 2.34±0,08 mg/dl and 2.22±0,04 mg/dl and 4.20±0.10 and 4.27±0.11 mg/dl, respectively. There was no significant correlation between the serum Ca/Mg ratio and body composition with the occurrence of sarcopenia in older adult women (p = 0.47; r = 0.146).