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Association of sitting time and breaks in sitting with muscle mass, strength, function, and inflammation in community-dwelling older adults

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Abstract

Summary

The mechanisms through which excessive sitting time impacts health are important to understand. This study found that each hour of sitting per day was not associated with physical function, although associations with poor body composition were observed. Reducing sitting time for improved weight management in older adults needs further exploration.

Introduction

To examine the association of sitting time and breaks in sitting time with muscle mass, strength, function, and inflammation in older Australians.

Methods

Data from the thigh-worn activPAL3™ monitor (7-day continuous wear) was used to derive time spent sitting (hours) and total number of sit-stand transitions per day. Body composition (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry), lower-body muscle strength, function (timed up-and-go [TUG], 4-m gait speed, four square step test, 30-second sit-to-stand), and serum inflammatory markers (interleukin-[IL-6], IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α], and adiponectin) were measured. Multiple regression analyses, adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, education, employment status, marital status, number of prescription medications, smoking status, vitamin D, and stepping time, were used to assess the associations.

Results

Data from 123 community-dwelling older adults (aged 65–84 years, 63% female) were used. Total daily sitting time was associated with lower percentage lean mass (β [95%CI], − 1.70% [− 2.30, − 1.10]) and higher total body fat mass (2.92 kg [1.94, 3.30]). More frequent breaks in sitting time were associated with a 45% reduced risk of having pre-sarcopenia (OR = 0.55; 95% CI 0.34, 0.91; model 1), defined as appendicular lean mass divided by BMI. No significant associations were observed for sitting time or breaks in sitting with measures of muscle strength, function, or inflammation.

Conclusion

In older community-dwelling adults, greater sitting time was associated with a lower percentage lean mass, while more frequent breaks in sitting time were associated with lower odds of having pre-sarcopenia. This suggests that reducing sedentary time and introducing frequent breaks in sedentary time may be beneficial for improving body composition in healthy older adults.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (Centre of Research Excellence Grant #1057608 to G.N.H., and E.G.E., with a top-up scholarship provided to N.R.; Senior Research Fellowship #511001 to E.G.E.; Career Development Fellowship #108029 to G.N.H), the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and Australian Research Council (Dementia Research Development Fellowship #110331 to P.A.G.), and the Australian Federal Government (Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship to N.R.). This study was part of a larger intervention trial that was supported by a competitive peer-reviewed grant from Meat and Livestock Australia (D.MHN.0303).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston Rd, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, 4006, Australia

    N. Reid, G. N. Healy & E. E. Eakin

  2. Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia

    G. N. Healy

  3. School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University, Perth, Australia

    G. N. Healy

  4. Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia

    J. Gianoudis, M. Formica, C. A. Nowson & R. M. Daly

  5. Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    P. A. Gardiner

  6. Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Australia

    P. A. Gardiner

  7. Department of Medicine, Western Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    R. M. Daly

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  1. N. Reid
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Reid, N., Healy, G.N., Gianoudis, J. et al. Association of sitting time and breaks in sitting with muscle mass, strength, function, and inflammation in community-dwelling older adults. Osteoporos Int 29, 1341–1350 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-018-4428-6

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