Association of sarcopenia and physical activity on the severity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease among United States adults: NHANES 2017 - 2018

BackgroundSarcopenia, physical activity (PA), and sedentary behavior are associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The study aimed to evaluate the effects of sarcopenia and PA on the presence and severity of MASLD.MethodsThis cross-sectional study analyzed dat...

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Main Authors: Xiaodie Wei, Xiaohui Liu, Jinhan Zhao, Yang Zhang, Lixia Qiu, Jing Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Aging
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fragi.2025.1573170/full
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author Xiaodie Wei
Xiaohui Liu
Jinhan Zhao
Jinhan Zhao
Yang Zhang
Lixia Qiu
Jing Zhang
author_facet Xiaodie Wei
Xiaohui Liu
Jinhan Zhao
Jinhan Zhao
Yang Zhang
Lixia Qiu
Jing Zhang
author_sort Xiaodie Wei
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundSarcopenia, physical activity (PA), and sedentary behavior are associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The study aimed to evaluate the effects of sarcopenia and PA on the presence and severity of MASLD.MethodsThis cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis were assessed by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE). Sarcopenia was defined based on the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health criteria. PA and sedentary behavior were evaluated using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ).ResultsAmong 1,831 participants, 664 were diagnosed with MASLD, including 482 with severe steatosis and 89 with significant fibrosis. The prevalence of sarcopenia in the MASLD and non-MASLD populations was 11.7% and 3.8%, respectively. Multivariable-adjusted models demonstrated that sarcopenia significantly increased the risk of MASLD (OR 2.45; 95% CI: 1.33–4.52), severe steatosis (OR 2.56; 95% CI: 1.40–4.66), and significant fibrosis (OR 6.10; 95% CI: 2.08–17.84). Additionally, individuals with sarcopenia and low PA had a 7.91-fold increased risk of developing significant fibrosis (OR, 7.91; 95% CI: 1.42–44.16, P = 0.022). Sarcopenia and prolonged sedentary behavior further increased the risk of MASLD (OR 3.75; 95% CI: 1.60–8.76), severe steatosis (OR 17.58; 95% CI: 1.93–159.79), and significant fibrosis (OR 4.32; 95% CI: 1.31–14.31).ConclusionPatients with sarcopenia should increase physical activity and reduce sedentary time to decrease the risk and progression of MASLD. Increasing muscle mass and strength through resistance exercise to reduce the risk of significant fibrosis in sarcopenia patients.
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spelling doaj-art-d8cf9f324e7d4353a25fe854acea197c2025-08-20T01:50:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Aging2673-62172025-05-01610.3389/fragi.2025.15731701573170Association of sarcopenia and physical activity on the severity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease among United States adults: NHANES 2017 - 2018Xiaodie Wei0Xiaohui Liu1Jinhan Zhao2Jinhan Zhao3Yang Zhang4Lixia Qiu5Jing Zhang6The Third Unit, The Department of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaThe Third Unit, The Department of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaThe Third Unit, The Department of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaBeijing Institute of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaBeijing Institute of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaThe Third Unit, The Department of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaThe Third Unit, The Department of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaBackgroundSarcopenia, physical activity (PA), and sedentary behavior are associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The study aimed to evaluate the effects of sarcopenia and PA on the presence and severity of MASLD.MethodsThis cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis were assessed by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE). Sarcopenia was defined based on the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health criteria. PA and sedentary behavior were evaluated using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ).ResultsAmong 1,831 participants, 664 were diagnosed with MASLD, including 482 with severe steatosis and 89 with significant fibrosis. The prevalence of sarcopenia in the MASLD and non-MASLD populations was 11.7% and 3.8%, respectively. Multivariable-adjusted models demonstrated that sarcopenia significantly increased the risk of MASLD (OR 2.45; 95% CI: 1.33–4.52), severe steatosis (OR 2.56; 95% CI: 1.40–4.66), and significant fibrosis (OR 6.10; 95% CI: 2.08–17.84). Additionally, individuals with sarcopenia and low PA had a 7.91-fold increased risk of developing significant fibrosis (OR, 7.91; 95% CI: 1.42–44.16, P = 0.022). Sarcopenia and prolonged sedentary behavior further increased the risk of MASLD (OR 3.75; 95% CI: 1.60–8.76), severe steatosis (OR 17.58; 95% CI: 1.93–159.79), and significant fibrosis (OR 4.32; 95% CI: 1.31–14.31).ConclusionPatients with sarcopenia should increase physical activity and reduce sedentary time to decrease the risk and progression of MASLD. Increasing muscle mass and strength through resistance exercise to reduce the risk of significant fibrosis in sarcopenia patients.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fragi.2025.1573170/fullmetabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver diseasephysical activitysarcopeniaNHANESliver fibrosis
spellingShingle Xiaodie Wei
Xiaohui Liu
Jinhan Zhao
Jinhan Zhao
Yang Zhang
Lixia Qiu
Jing Zhang
Association of sarcopenia and physical activity on the severity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease among United States adults: NHANES 2017 - 2018
Frontiers in Aging
metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
physical activity
sarcopenia
NHANES
liver fibrosis
title Association of sarcopenia and physical activity on the severity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease among United States adults: NHANES 2017 - 2018
title_full Association of sarcopenia and physical activity on the severity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease among United States adults: NHANES 2017 - 2018
title_fullStr Association of sarcopenia and physical activity on the severity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease among United States adults: NHANES 2017 - 2018
title_full_unstemmed Association of sarcopenia and physical activity on the severity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease among United States adults: NHANES 2017 - 2018
title_short Association of sarcopenia and physical activity on the severity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease among United States adults: NHANES 2017 - 2018
title_sort association of sarcopenia and physical activity on the severity of metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease among united states adults nhanes 2017 2018
topic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
physical activity
sarcopenia
NHANES
liver fibrosis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fragi.2025.1573170/full
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