Approximately 30% of seniors over 60 years of age SarcopeniaThis happens. Muscle mass, strength, and muscle function all decrease.
According to the Asian sarcopenia diagnostic criteria, sarcopenia can be suspected when the walking speed is less than 0.8 m/sec or the grip strength is less than 26kg for men and 18kg for women. Although it can occur naturally as we age, it can increase the risk of fractures and cause various chronic diseases.
Eunmyeong, director of the Geriatric Internal Medicine Clinic at Busan On General Hospital, said on the 6th, “Sarcopenia threatens a healthy life in old age by causing geriatric diseases such as activity disorders, diabetes, and metabolic diseases,” and added, “For a healthy and long life, it must be managed as thoroughly as cancer.” “I do it,” he said. In particular, elderly people are more vulnerable to chronic diseases because it is difficult to maintain a constant metabolic state in the body, so prevention is essential to prevent sarcopenia.
As of 2025, the number of sarcopenia patients in Korea is estimated to be approximately 1.46 million. It is known that approximately 30% of the population over 60 years of age suffers from sarcopenia. The situation is a little better than in Korea, but the same is true in the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 10% of adults over 65 years of age and 40% of adults over 80 years of age suffer from sarcopenia.
30% of seniors over 60 years of age suffer from sarcopenia… “New Year’s health care is strength training, nutritional balance, and vitamin D.”
Accordingly, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified sarcopenia as a disease in 2016 and assigned a disease code, and Korea also classified it as an official disease in 2021. There is currently no direct cure, but prevention is possible through proper nutrition and exercise.
The reason why sarcopenia is dangerous is that it not only accelerates aging itself, but also causes various complications. Muscles are the primary element that supports the human skeleton, so as muscles decrease, the risk of falls and fractures increases. In addition, long-term hospitalization is inevitable after a fall, and depending on the situation, the risk of death increases.
Muscles also play an important role in the blood sugar control process, and it is known that a decrease in muscle mass increases the risk of developing diabetes. This is because muscles must maintain an appropriate level to ensure stable consumption of glucose in the blood and to prevent insulin resistance from worsening. In addition, it should not be overlooked that if blood circulation or metabolic function decreases overall, blood flow to the brain also decreases, which may increase the risk of cognitive dysfunction such as dementia.
Fortunately, it is known that sarcopenia can be prevented and managed through consistent exercise, balanced nutrition, and vitamin D supplementation. Recently, the National Institute of Health under the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency received attention from the academic world by publishing research results in the international journal Life Sciences showing that maintaining an appropriate concentration of vitamin D in the blood can effectively prevent sarcopenia due to aging.
Related article: “Vitamin D, preventive effect of muscle loss due to aging” (Comedy.com, December 19, 2024)
The research team at the National Institute of Health’s Endocrine and Kidney Disease Research Department focused on ‘vitamin D’ as a way to prevent and improve sarcopenia in the elderly and confirmed the interaction between muscle hormone (myokine) and vitamin D. Myokine, which is secreted from muscles during exercise, is an important substance that contributes not only to muscle function but also to metabolic regulation and inflammation relief in the nervous system, liver, and adipose tissue.
In this study, we observed a rapid decrease in the expression of “Apelin,” a myokine beneficial for muscle function and muscle regeneration, and its receptor (receptor protein) as aging progresses. However, when high-dose vitamin D (20,000 IU/kg) was administered to experimental animals (rats), it was confirmed that the blood concentration of apelin and receptor expression increased, thereby improving muscle function.
Director Eun also said, “The National Institute of Health’s announcement is a meaningful study that directly proves the mechanism of preventing sarcopenia through vitamin D in addition to exercise,” adding, “If you consume vitamin D consistently to avoid deficiency, you can extend your health span.” “We will be able to help,” he predicted.
Compared to Westerners, Koreans have a higher average vitamin D deficiency rate.
In particular, it becomes more serious in seasons when sunlight is reduced or in the elderly who often spend a lot of time indoors. In fact, the number of vitamin D deficiency patients increased rapidly from 86,285 in 2017 to 247,077 in 2021.
The results of the Elderly Frailty Cohort study also support this, with only 21% of elderly people over 70 years old reaching a blood vitamin D concentration of 30 ng/ml or higher (an appropriate level), and 41% of them reaching 10 ng/ml or less (a deficiency level). In particular, it has been reported that a lack of vitamin D reduces overall physical activity, causes muscle loss, and increases the risk of aging by about 1.5 times.
Meanwhile, since vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, overdosing can cause side effects such as hypercalcemia, so observing the appropriate dosage is key. Generally, 400 to 800 IU per day is recommended for adults, and for the elderly, the required amount may be slightly higher due to decreased metabolic ability.
Additionally, it is naturally synthesized in the skin when exposed to sufficient sunlight. Exposure to sunlight for 15 to 20 minutes a few times a week also helps synthesize vitamin D.
Source: kormedi.com
