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Sex-Specific Associations Between Prebiotic Supplement Intake and Sarcopenia Risk: Evidence From NHANES

Summary

This study examined whether taking prebiotic supplements helps prevent sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss) differently in men versus women using health data from thousands of Americans. Researchers found that women who consumed prebiotics had significantly lower rates of sarcopenia, while this benefit was not observed in men. These findings suggest that prebiotic supplements may be particularly beneficial for women’s muscle health, though more research is needed to understand why this sex difference exists.

Background

Sarcopenia, characterized by progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, is a significant public health challenge. Recent research highlights the potential role of gut microbiota in sarcopenia development, with prebiotics showing promise in improving muscle health. The composition of the gut microbiome differs between sexes, which may influence how prebiotics modulate muscle health.

Objective

This study investigates sex-specific associations between prebiotic intake and sarcopenia risk using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2011-2014. The study aims to determine whether the relationship between prebiotic consumption and sarcopenia risk differs by sex.

Results

The study identified 4306 nonconsumers and 157 prebiotic consumers. Female prebiotic consumers had significantly lower odds of sarcopenia (OR: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.05-0.32, p=0.01) after full adjustment for confounders. In contrast, no significant association was observed in males (OR: 1.61, 95% CI: 0.06-40.31, p=0.76).

Conclusion

Prebiotic consumption is associated with reduced risk of sarcopenia among adult women but not men. These findings suggest potential sex-specific benefits of prebiotic consumption for muscle health and highlight the need for further research on underlying mechanisms involving gut microbiota, sex hormones, and muscle protein synthesis.
  • Published in:Food Science & Nutrition,
  • Study Type:Cross-sectional Observational Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40718722, DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.70410
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