The impact of gut microbiota on the development of sarcopenia in older adults: an integrative review of the gut-muscle axis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55892/jrg.v8i19.2625Keywords:
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Dysbiosis, Elderly, SarcopeniaAbstract
Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome characterized by musculoskeletal changes, including the loss of muscle mass, strength, and quality, which negatively impact the health of older adults. The gut-muscle axis suggests that the gut microbiota plays a fundamental role in maintaining muscle mass, as differences have been identified between the microbiota of sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic individuals. This study aimed to review the existing research on the interaction between gut microbiota and the development of sarcopenia, analyzing the intrinsic relationship between microbial imbalance and this condition by comparing the diversity of microbial composition in sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic older adults. This is an integrative review based on publications from the last ten years (2015 to 2025), retrieved from the PubMed, SciELO, and ScienceDirect databases. It was observed that changes in the gut microbiome, resulting from an imbalance in the proportion of bacterial species, interfere with muscle development and influence the onset of sarcopenia. Furthermore, diet significantly affects the composition of the gut microbiota and the development of sarcopenia, as it can stimulate both muscle growth and the proliferation of bacteria that modulate this process. The literature suggests an association between intestinal dysbiosis and the onset of sarcopenia. In this context, diet, lifestyle, and the use of probiotics are major modulators of the gut microbiome. Moreover, certain gut bacteria have been proposed as potential biomarkers of sarcopenia, contributing to early diagnosis and prevention strategies. Finally, there is a noted lack of recent and robust studies on the gut-muscle axis, particularly in Latin America, where significant gaps in population-based research remain.
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