Research
Mixed
Muscle strength is a stronger determinant of quality of life and functional decline in older adults than muscle mass, making strength assessment superior to mass assessment for sarcopenia diagnosis.
Focus on maintaining or improving your leg strength (e.g., through resistance training) rather than just worrying about muscle size. Strength is the key metric for staying independent and healthy as you age.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
The loss in muscle strength is considered a more important risk factor for functional decline than the loss in muscle mass [14]. ... The associations between low appendicular mean mass and health-related quality of life were weaker, indicating that muscle strength is a stronger determinant of quality of life than muscle mass [15].
Why this rating
Supported by multiple cited studies (Balogun et al., Tieland et al.) and consensus guidelines.
Source
Nutritional strategies to improve muscle quality during ageing
Pol Grootswagers · 2020
DOI 10.18174/530397
narrative_review
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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- Knee extension strength is a more valid and predictive measure of functional performance and health characteristics in older adults than handgrip strength.Good
- Nutritional strategies, including specific supplements and dietary patterns, can improve physical performance and muscle quality in older adults, sometimes even without concurrent exercise.Moderate
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