Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39844065›Full record

ArticleBMC geriatrics2025

Serum ALT activity and its isoenzymes as potential biomarkers for diagnosis of Sarcopenia in older adults: a retrospective, cross-sectional study.

Jiangping Zeng, Nannan Li, Jiaying Ge, Huihui Ma, Siqi Sun, Yujie Jing, Chunhua Qian, Ran Cui, Shen Qu, Hui Sheng

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Risk Factors and Acute-Phase Blood Markers in Stroke Among Young Adults: A Hospital-Based Case-Control Study from South India.Indian journal of community medicine : official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Jiangping Zeng *Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China.
Nannan Li *Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.
Jiaying GeDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China.
Huihui MaDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China.
Siqi SunDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China.
Yujie JingDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China.
Chunhua QianDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China.
Ran CuiDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China.
Shen QuDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China.
Hui ShengDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China. shenghui@tongji.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China No. 82170894Program of Shanghai Science and Technology Committee 21S11901100the Research Physician Project of Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital 2023YJXYSA014
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlanine aminotransferase (ALT) is an enzyme crucial for energy and protein metabolism in muscle cells. Despite this, its association with sarcopenia remains inadequately explored. This study aims to investigate the correlation between serum levels of ALT-related indicators (ALT activity, ALT1, ALT2, and ALT1/ALT2 ratio) and sarcopenia measures, as well as to develop a diagnostic model for sarcopenia in older individuals.

methodsThis retrospective study assessed 653 older adults (aged ≥ 55 years), 109 of whom were studied for the association of ALT1, ALT2, and ALT1/ALT2 ratio with sarcopenia measures. Muscle mass was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Hand grip strength (HGS) was measured with a digital dynamometer, and physical performance was assessed through the 6-meter gait speed and the five-times sit-to-stand test (FTSST). Binary logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate associations between ALT-related indicators (ALT activity and ALT1/ALT2 ratio) and sarcopenia. The diagnostic model was developed using binary logistic regression with backward selection, and the diagnostic performance of the model was evaluated by the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) curve.

resultsOlder adults with sarcopenia exhibited a lower serum ALT activity and a higher ALT1/ALT2 ratio compared to those without sarcopenia. ALT activity tertiles, but not ALT1 or ALT2 tertiles alone, correlated with HGS, gait speed, FTSST, and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), serving as independent protective factors for low HGS, low physical performance, low ASMI, and sarcopenia. Tertiles of the ALT1/ALT2 ratio were significantly associated with HGS and FTSST, and were proved independent risk factors for low physical performance and sarcopenia by binary logistic regression analysis. An optimal Model A (based on ALT activity) was established for sarcopenia to develop a new Logit_P1 (p < 0.001). Similarly, an optimal Model B (based on ALT1/ALT2 ratio tertiles) was established for sarcopenia to develop a new Logit_P2 (p < 0.001). According to the ROC curve analysis for discriminating sarcopenia, the performance of Logit_P2 (area under the curve = 0.830) seemed better than that of Logit_P1 (area under the curve = 0.789), although the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.214).

conclusionsIn older adults, a low serum ALT activity level was an independent risk factor for low ASMI, HGS, physical performance, and sarcopenia. The serum ALT1/ALT2 ratio emerged as an independent risk factor for low physical performance and sarcopenia. The new indices, Logit_P1 and Logit_P2, demonstrated diagnostic value for sarcopenia.

Indexed as

Alanine TransaminaseSarcopeniaAgedAged, 80 and overBiomarkersCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHand StrengthHumansIsoenzymesMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesAlanine TransaminaseBiomarkersIsoenzymesALTALT1/ALT2 ratioDiagnostic performanceOlder adultsSarcopenia

Identifiers

PMID39844065
PMCPMC11753154

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.