A noticeable decline in muscle mass with age appears to be linked to increased dangers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and fibrosis. This is the conclusion reached by Chinese researchers, as presented in a systematic review published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.
Sarcopenia is the term used for the age-related decrease in both muscle strength and overall skeletal muscle mass. The recent study indicated that sarcopenia is substantially more prevalent in individuals diagnosed with NAFLD compared to those without the condition: precisely 23% versus 15%. Furthermore, this is not merely a coincidence but a demonstrable relationship: the presence of sarcopenia elevates the likelihood of developing fatty liver disease by a factor of 1.58. Concurrently, the probability of liver fibrosis developing—a more severe stage of liver damage—more than doubled.
The research team observed that this correlation remained significant regardless of the technique employed to measure muscle mass, though it varied somewhat depending on how the liver pathologies were diagnosed. The most pronounced connections were identified when NAFLD confirmation utilized computed tomography (CT) scans. Conversely, when transient elastography was the diagnostic tool, the statistical significance in certain analyses diminished.
These findings suggest that sarcopenia might function as a controllable risk factor. However, given the inherent inconsistencies in diagnostic criteria and the varied methodologies across the studies included in the review, the scientists believe it is premature to draw definitive conclusions.
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