Degree
Master of Science
Program
Foods and Nutrition
Supervisor
Dr. Janet Madill
Abstract
Sarcopenia, a major concern in the older adult population, is defined as age-related loss of muscle mass and strength. Quadriceps muscle layer thickness (QMLT) measured using ultrasonography (US) is a newly-validated tool to measure muscle mass, which can be used to identify sarcopenic individuals. Our objective was to determine the association of factors such as handgrip strength (HGS), protein intake, nutritional status (via Subjective Global Assessment-SGA) and fat mass (FM) percentage with QMLT size (measured by US) in community-dwelling and institutionalized older adults. Additionally, we aimed to understand how perceived food intake of protein-rich foods could have an impact actual food intake. Sixty-three older adults ≥65 years (23 community-dwelling and 40 institutionalized older adults) took part in a cross-sectional study measuring differences in QMLT size, HGS, protein intake, SGA scores, and FM percentage between groups. Additionally, focus groups and individual interviews provided qualitative perspectives on protein intake. QMLT size was not significant between groups (p=0.358); however, HGS was significantly higher in community-dwelling older adults (pr=0.432, pr=-0.361, p=0.004). HGS was the best predictor of QMLT size (b=0.391, r(63)=0.432, p=0.014) and QMLT measurements were highly reproducible (p
Recommended Citation
Cheikh, Nesrine, "Differences in Quadriceps Muscle Layer Thickness (QMLT) and contributing risk factors to muscle mass in community-dwelling and institutionalized older adults" (2018). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 5964.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/5964