Towards a definition of sarcopenia--results from epidemiologic studies

The age-related loss of muscle mass, also called sarcopenia, is receiving increasing attention in aging research. While the concept is frequently being used in research settings and introduced to clinical settings, thus far no consensus on its definition has been established. This article provides an overview of the history of sarcopenia definitions proposed in the literature thus far. It will describe the methodology used to develop the cutpoints for low muscle mass (or strength) in large epidemiological studies, how sarcopenia based on these cutpoints relates to functional outcomes, and the advantages and disadvantages of the different definitions. This overview will contribute to the current need to develop a consensus definition of sarcopenia which can be used in all relevant settings. The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging©

Influência do Fósforo, Micorriza e Nitrogênio no Conteúdo de Minerais de Brachiaria brizantha e Arachis pintoi Consorciados Effect of Phosphorus, Mycorrhizal and Nitrogen on Mineral Content of Brachiaria brizantha - Arachis pintoi Mixture

O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação com o objetivo de avaliar a influência do fósforo (P), fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMA's) e nitrogênio (N) no acúmulo de minerais na MS da parte aérea de braquiária MG-4 (Brachiaria brizantha cv. MG-4) e amendoim forrageiro (Arachis pintoi cv. Amarillo) consorciados, em solo de baixa fertilidade. O delineamento utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, num esquema fatorial 5x2x2, sendo cinco doses de P (25, 50, 75, 100 e 200 mg de P/kg de solo), dois tratamentos de inoculação do solo (inoculado e não com o FMA Glomus etunicatum) e dois tratamentos de N (com e sem N em cobertura), com quatro repetições. Foi realizado o corte da parte aérea das plantas aos 60 dias após a germinação para a determinação das quantidades acumuladas de N, P, K, Ca, Mg e S na MS da parte aérea. As adubações fosfatada e, principalmente, a nitrogenada provocaram aumento no conteúdo de N, P, K, Ca, Mg e S na braquiária MG-4, não se verificando tal aumento com a micorrização. No amendoim forrageiro, observou-se redução destes minerais com a aplicação de N, ao passo que a micorrização resultou em aumento dos mesmos. Por outro lado, a adubação fosfatada provocou pequeno aumento no acúmulo de minerais na MS da parte aérea do amendoim forrageiro.<br>This experiment was carried out in a greenhouse condition to study the effect of phosphorus, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen on mineral accumulation in braquiaria MG-4 (Brachiaria brizantha cv. MG-4) above ground forage DM and peanut (Arachis pintoi cv. Amarillo) mixture, in soil of low fertility. The experimental design was a completely randomized in a 5x2x2 factorial arrangement, with five P rates (25, 50, 75, 100 and 200 mg/kg of soil), two inoculations (inoculated and no inoculated) and two levels of N (with and without N), with four replicates. The harvest of the above ground parts of plants was at 60 days after seed germination to determine the accumulated amounts of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S. The phosphorus and mainly the nitrogen fertilization increased the accumulation of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S in plant DM of braquiaria MG-4, however, this was not observed for mycorrhization. For forage peanut, a reduction of these minerals was observed with application of N, whereas the mycorrhization resulted in an increase of them. On the other hand, the phosphorus caused little increase in the accumulation of minerals in plant DM of peanut forage