Association of diet quality and quantity with the risk of sarcopenia based on the Chinese diet balance index 2022.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the dietary structure characteristics and the association between food intake and sarcopenia among older adults in China, based on the DBI-22 scoring criteria. This analysis was intended to provide guidance for improving dietary balances and nutritional management related to sarcopenia. Methods: A stratified random cluster sampling method was employed to select 1,478 elderly individuals aged 60 and above in Chinese. A questionnaire survey was conducted, which included the Sarcopenia-Five (SARF) scale and Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ). The China Dietary Balance Index 2022 (DBI-22) was utilized to assess dietary quality. Generalize Linear Model (GLM) and logistic regression analysis were applied to examine dietary factors influencing sarcopenia. Results: The issue of dietary imbalance among the elderly was found to be severe, with 52.11% of participants exhibiting deficient intake, 46.54% displaying excessive intake, and 59.78% demonstrating overall dietary imbalance (moderate-to-high levels). Screening conducted using the SARF scale revealed a sarcopenia rate of 24.82%. Excessive intake of cereal was identified as a risk factor for sarcopenia ( Conclusion: The dietary habits of older adults were problematic, with both insufficient and excessive food intake. Too much cereal posed a risk for sarcopenia, whereas more red meat and products, poultry and game served as a protective factor.