Sarcopenia Updates in Concept, Diagnosis, and Treatment: Could Medium Chain Triglycerides Be a Treatment Candidate for Sarcopenia?

Abstract

Sarcopenia—the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function —is a common clinical problem in older people, and often leads to severe adverse outcomes. The growing interest of sarcopenia has highlighted the need to understand more about its management. The preservation or improvement of physical function and independent living are vital in frail older adults, and sarcopenia is a major contributor to physical frailty. Several definitions of sarcopenia have been globally proposed thus far, although no consensus has been reached. Moreover, sarcopenia is now recognized as an independent condition by an ICD-10-CM code.

Medium chain triglyceride (MCT), a lipid of carbon chain 8-10, has high energy efficiency, and is used immediately as an energy source. MCT is considered to be one of extremely useful nutrients for the elderly with malnutrition and sarcopenia with decreased food intake. A recent study shows that oral ingestion of MCT promotes the activation of ghrelin, and, therefore, MCT has gained much attention from the point of appetite stimulation in older adults.