Universitat Rovira i Virgili study links abdominal fat to sarcopenia

Researchers from the Functional Nutrition, Oxidation and Cardiovascular Diseases research group (NFOC-Salut) at Universitat Rovira i Virgili have identified a link between abdominal fat distribution and parameters of sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is an age-related syndrome characterized by the progressive loss of muscle mass, strength, and physical performance.

The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology, focused on 72 individuals aged 60 to 74 from the Camp de Tarragona region. Using ultrasound, researchers differentiated between visceral adipose tissue (VAT), located around the organs, and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), located under the skin. The findings suggest that how abdominal fat is distributed plays a significant role in the development of sarcopenia-related indicators.