Using Dietary Macronutrient Patterns to Predict Sarcopenic Obesity in Older Adults: A Representative Korean Nationwide Population-Based Study

Older adults with sarcopenic obesity (SO) are at increased risk of adverse health outcomes. It has not been identified which pattern of macronutrient intake is appropriate in relation to SO. We aimed to compare the patterns of macronutrient intake for predicting SO in older adults. Data from a total of 3828 older adults who participated in the 2008–2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. The one-day 24 h dietary recall method was used to assess macronutrient intake. SO was defined by a combination of body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m² and BMI adjusted-appendicular skeletal muscle mass <0.789 for men and <0.512 for women. Weighted logistic regression analysis revealed the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for SO of total calorie intake per 100 increments and carbohydrate (CHO) intake (g/kg/day) per 1 increment to be 0.95 (0.91–0.99) and 0.83 (0.74–0.94), respectively, after adjusting for confounding variables in women. The predictive power for SO of CHO intake (g/kg/day) was higher compared with the other patterns of macronutrient intake both in men and women. In conclusion, total calorie intake and CHO intake (g/kg/day) are inversely related to SO in women. CHO intake (g/kg/day) could be the best index for determining SO.