Effect of host and gut microbiota-altering interventions on sarcopenia or its defining parameters - a systematic review and meta-analysis of nutrition-based intervention studies

Q: What was the aim of the systematic review?

To investigate the effects of host- and gut microbiota (GM)-altering interventions on sarcopenia and its defining parameters.

Q: What kinds of interventions were included in the review?

Diet-based interventions, prebiotics, probiotics, or synbiotics as mono-interventions.

Q: Which interventions showed improvements in sarcopenia-related outcomes?

Probiotics improved muscle strength and gait speed. Fiber (whole-food)-enriched diets improved muscle strength, and high-protein diets improved muscle mass in women under specified duration conditions.

Sep 30, 2026

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Investigates how interventions that alter host factors and gut microbiota (GM) influence sarcopenia and related parameters. Uses a PROSPERO-registered systematic review, searching six databases and one registry through January 5, 2024 and updating June 10, 2025. Focuses on diet-based diet, prebiotics, probiotics, or synbiotics mono-interventions in populations with mean age ≥50 years, computing standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals, plus risk of bias and GRADE certainty assessments.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

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Pages24

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Abstract

Aim

Methods

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Introduction

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research (2026) 38:17 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-025-03216-z](https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-025-03216-z) SYSTEMATIC REVIEW Effect of host and gut microbiota-altering interventions on sarcopenia or its defining parameters: a systematic review and meta-analysis of nutrition-based intervention studies Laurence Lapauw1 · Nadjia Amini1 · Emiel Switsers2 · Jolan Dupont1,3 · Laura Vercauteren1 · Muriel Derrien4,5 · Jeroen Raes4,5 · Evelien Gielen1,3 Received: 15 May 2025 / Revised: 10 September 2025 / Accepted: 15 September 2025 © The Author(s) 2025 Abstract Aim To investigate effects of host-and gut microbiota (GM)-altering interventions on sarcopenia (parameters) . Methods Upon PROSPERO registration (CRD42022347363), six databases and one registry were searched until January 5th 2024 and updated on June 10th 2025 for diet, pre-, pro-, or synbiotics mono-interventions in populations with mean age ≥ 50 years. (Standardized) mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed using randomeffects models if heterogeneity was > 50% . Risk of bias (Rob) & GRADE assessments were carried out to assess the evidence’ quality and certainty. Results The qualitative analysis included 38 diet, 13 prebiotics, 11 probiotics and 1 synbiotics studies, totaling 4842 participants (59%♀), mostly of high RoB. The quantitative analysis included 49 studies. Probiotics improved muscle strength by 1.90 kg and gait speed by 0.08 m/s. Fiber (whole-food)-enriched diets improved muscle strength with 1.25 kg and energyrestricted diets, aimed at weight loss, improved muscle mass if mean age was < 60 years and if the intervention lasted no longer than 12 weeks. High-protein diets improved muscle mass in women and if the intervention lasted at least 12 weeks. Studies involving participants with sarcopenia were only included in the qualitative analysis, since none provided sufficient data to allow a quantitative synthesis. Discussion Fiber (whole food)-enriched diets and probiotics improve muscle strength. The latter intervention also improves gait speed. High-protein diets improve muscle mass in women and with intervention durations ≥ 12 weeks. Future studies should include fecal sampling to assess whether GM modulate the observed effects. Conclusion Specific diets and probiotics offer potential to improve sarcopenia parameters. Keywords Sarcopenia · Prebiotics · Probiotics · Synbiotics · Diets · Meta-analysis 􀀍 Laurence Lapauw [laurence.lapauw@kuleuven.be](laurence.lapauw@kuleuven.be) 1 Department of Public Health and Primary Care, division of Gerontology and Geriatrics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium 2 Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium 3 Division of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium 4 Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium 5 VIB Center for Microbiology, Leuven, Belgium Introduction Sarcopenia, a progressive generalized skeletal muscle disorder, characterized by loss of muscle mass and function, increases the risk of deleterious health outcomes such as falls, fractures and mortality [1] . Prevalence ofsarcopenia is up to 27% in persons aged ≥ 60 years [2], depending on the community setting, underlying comorbidity and sarcopenia definition [3] . Sarcopenia puts significant burden on healthcare systems [4, 5], warranting accurate treatment, and preferably preventive measures, which in turn requires an in depth comprehension of the pathophysiology of sarcopenia. Multiple factors contribute to this process, e.g., anabolic resistance, alterations at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) 1 3 and low-grade systemic inflammation or ‘inflammaging’ [6] . Additionally, gut microbiota (GM) have emerged as a potential driver of sarcopenia. Gut microbiota contribute to various physiological processes such as metabolism of undigested food, antioxidant activity, maintenance of the gut bar

FAQs

What was the aim of the systematic review?

To investigate the effects of host- and gut microbiota (GM)-altering interventions on sarcopenia and its defining parameters.

What kinds of interventions were included in the review?

Diet-based interventions, prebiotics, probiotics, or synbiotics as mono-interventions.

Which interventions showed improvements in sarcopenia-related outcomes?

Probiotics improved muscle strength and gait speed. Fiber (whole-food)-enriched diets improved muscle strength, and high-protein diets improved muscle mass in women under specified duration conditions.

Sep 30, 2026

Upload by Levi