Sarcopenia

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the effect of sarcopenic status on the occurrence of treatment-related toxicity during the first course of anti-cancer treatment in several types of cancers. The main question it aims to answer is : Is sarcopenia a predictive marker for the occurrence of toxicity in the initial phase of cancer treatment? The evaluation will focus on the body composition of the participants, assessed by impedancemetry, and on their muscular performance by standardized physical tests.

This study will examine the association between low muscle mass (myopenia) at diagnosis and chemotherapy toxicity in older adults with newly diagnosed advanced colorectal cancer.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and dual GLP-1/GIP agonists such as semaglutide and tirzepatide produce marked weight loss in people with obesity, with reported reductions of about 15-20%. Rapid weight loss may reduce not only fat mass but also lean body mass and skeletal muscle mass, raising concern about sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity. Evidence in non-diabetic obese individuals is limited and inconsistent. This prospective descriptive study will assess muscle mass, muscle strength, physical performance and sarcopenia risk in non-diabetic obese adults starting GLP-1 RA therapy, at baseline and at month 3, and will examine how weight loss relates to changes in body composition.

1. To evaluate the safety and tolerability of CG-BM1 for the treatment of patients with Sarcopenia. 2. To observe the preliminary effectiveness of CG-BM1 in treating Sarcopenia patients.

This prospective observational study aims to investigate the association between sarcopenia and clinical outcomes following interlaminar epidural steroid injection in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Patients who are scheduled to undergo interlaminar epidural steroid injection as part of routine clinical care will be enrolled. Before the procedure, sarcopenia-related assessments, including the SARC-F questionnaire, handgrip strength, and the five-times sit-to-stand test, will be performed. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will also be evaluated for paraspinal muscle characteristics and the severity of lumbar spinal stenosis. Pain intensity, functional status, walking capacity, and health-related quality of life will be assessed at baseline. Pain intensity, functional status, and health-related quality of life will be reassessed at 3 weeks and 3 months after the procedure. The study will evaluate whether sarcopenia and MRI-based paraspinal muscle characteristics are associated with clinical outcomes following interlaminar epidural steroid injection.

This study aims to establish the first county-level, population-based prospective cohort in Taining County, Fujian Province, China. The cohort will include at least 20,000 residents aged 18 years or older. The project will systematically collect questionnaires, physical measurements, laboratory tests, imaging data, and biological samples to build a multi-dimensional health database and biobank. Through 3-year follow-up, the study seeks to reveal the epidemiological patterns and risk factors of chronic diseases, characterize the natural course of multimorbidity and aging syndromes, and develop a comprehensive chronic disease management model suitable for rural and mountainous regions.

This three-year study aims to investigate gender differences in social frailty and evaluate the effects of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based conversational social-support intervention among older adults with chronic heart failure (CHF). The study plans to enroll 300-500 adults aged 60 years or older from four Chang Gung Memorial Hospital branches in Taiwan. In the first phase, researchers will assess participants' clinical characteristics, sarcopenia, physical activity, and physical, psychological, and social frailty. The study will examine gender differences and identify factors associated with social frailty. In the second phase, 174 participants are planned to be assigned to three groups: an AI-based conversational social-support group, a community social participation group, and a control group. The AI group will engage in daily 15-30-minute app-based conversations, while the community group will be encouraged to participate in regular social activities. The control group will maintain routine activities. The third phase will assess longer-term changes in social frailty, emotional well-being, physical activity, and health outcomes, with follow-up assessments at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the intervention.

"Women in Action" is a quasi-experimental, mixed-methods study evaluating a 16-week multicomponent intervention (supervised strength/aerobic/balance training plus psychoeducational and nutrition-focused behavioral workshops) for women aged 55-75 in perimenopause, menopause, and early ageing. The study will assess the feasibility, implementation fidelity, and acceptability of the program, together with its preliminary effects on a single primary outcome (handgrip strength) and secondary physical function, dietary, and psychosocial outcomes, compared with a passive control group receiving no intervention.

This study investigates whether the Sarcopenia Index (SI = serum creatinine/cystatin C × 100), a simple biomarker derived from routine blood tests, can predict weaning success in critically ill patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit. SI will be measured at the spontaneous breathing trial (SBT), and its predictive value will be compared with diaphragm ultrasound parameters - diaphragm thickening fraction (DTF) and diaphragm excursion (DE) - as well as other established weaning parameters. The goal is to determine whether SI can serve as an accessible, low-cost alternative or complement to ultrasound-based assessment in predicting successful liberation from mechanical ventilation, and to establish a population-specific SI cutoff value for this setting.

Older adults with breast cancer frequently present with frailty, decreased functional reserve, and increased risk of postoperative complications. Prehabilitation programs have emerged as a promising strategy to improve physical function and clinical outcomes; however, evidence in geriatric oncology remains limited, particularly regarding the role of biological markers in predicting response to such interventions. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a multicomponent prehabilitation program in older adults with breast cancer, focusing on functional status, clinical outcomes, and quality of life. In addition, the study seeks to characterize biological markers associated with frailty and treatment response, with the goal of identifying potential predictors of benefit from prehabilitation. Participants will undergo a structured prehabilitation intervention including physical exercise, nutritional optimization, and comprehensive geriatric assessment. Clinical, functional, and biomarker data will be collected longitudinally. The results of this study may contribute to improving personalized care strategies in geriatric oncology and to identifying patients who are most likely to benefit from prehabilitation programs.

This cross-sectional observational study aims to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia and dynapenia across disability stages in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and investigate their associations with clinical and functional parameters. Approximately 150 patients will be classified into two groups according to their Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores: mild disability (EDSS \< 4.0) and moderate disability (EDSS 4.0-6.5). Sarcopenia and dynapenia will be assessed using the ISarcoPRM algorithm. Physical activity, fatigue, and functional independence will also be evaluated.

This study aims to evaluate the clinical value of multimodal ultrasound for assessing muscle mass in patients with metabolic diseases, including metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and simple obesity. Skeletal muscle is the largest metabolic organ in the human body and plays a critical role in glucose metabolism. Muscle mass reduction is common in patients with metabolic diseases and is associated with insulin resistance, poor disease control, and increased risk of complications. Currently available methods for muscle assessment, such as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have limitations including high cost, radiation exposure, or poor portability, making them unsuitable for routine bedside monitoring. Multimodal ultrasound combines B-mode imaging, shear-wave elastography, superb microvascular imaging, and artificial intelligence analysis to provide a comprehensive evaluation of muscle morphology, stiffness, microcirculation, and quality. This non-invasive, radiation-free, and portable technique may serve as an ideal tool for muscle assessment in clinical practice. This prospective observational study will enroll 320 participants divided into four groups: metabolic syndrome (n=80), type 2 diabetes (n=80), simple obesity (n=80), and healthy controls (n=80). All participants will undergo baseline assessments including clinical data collection, biochemical tests, muscle function tests (handgrip strength, gait speed, Short Physical Performance Battery \[SPPB\]), multimodal ultrasound examination (muscle thickness, cross-sectional area, echo intensity, shear wave velocity, Young's modulus, microvascular density), and DXA measurement as the reference standard. The three metabolic disease groups will be followed prospectively for 12 months with repeat assessments at 6 and 12 months. The primary objectives are to determine diagnostic thresholds of multimodal ultrasound parameters for detecting metabolic sarcopenia; to establish correlation between ultrasound parameters and metabolic indicators (blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin \[HbA1c\], homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance \[HOMA-IR\], lipids); to develop a combined diagnostic model integrating ultrasound and clinical parameters; and to evaluate the predictive value of baseline ultrasound parameters for 12-month disease progression and complications. The findings will provide a non-invasive, convenient, and widely applicable tool for early screening, risk stratification, and therapeutic monitoring of muscle abnormalities in patients with metabolic diseases.

The entire clinical study will be conducted strictly following the following procedure: 1) Informed Consent If you decide to participate in this trial, we will first ensure that you fully understand the research purpose, procedure, possible benefits, and risks before conducting trial-related activities, and you will voluntarily sign the informed consent form. If a new version of the informed consent form is generated during the trial, you will also need to sign it again. 2\) Screening: After signing this informed consent form, the first step is screening. The purpose of screening is to determine whether you meet the requirements for participating in this clinical trial. We will collect your medical history, fill out general information, conduct a physical examination, measure vital signs, height, and weight, and collect blood routine, liver and kidney function tests (which should at least include the following indicators: alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase, creatine kinase, creatinine, urea, uric acid, albumin, glucose, low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, triglycerides, potassium, sodium, calcium). We will also complete professional assessments related to sarcopenia and frailty, including the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, calf circumference measurement, grip strength test, Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis-Skeletal Muscle Index (BIA-SMI), 4-meter daily walking speed test, Sarcopenia Assessment Rating Scale (SARC-F), and Fried frailty phenotype assessment. After the aforementioned procedures are completed, the research doctor will determine whether you can continue participating in the clinical trial. If you are unable to continue participating in the trial, the research doctor will also explain the reasons to you. 3\) Randomization: According to the randomization rules, you will be randomly assigned (similar to flipping a coin) to either the intervention group or the control group, with a 50% probability for each group. Throughout the entire study period, neither you nor the researchers who are conducting the study will be informed of your group assignment, and the blinding will be maintained until the end of the study. 4\) After being enrolled in the study intervention, you are required to attend treatment at the designated location according to the appointment time. Regardless of which group you are assigned to, the treatment site, duration, and procedure are completely identical. If you are assigned to the intervention group, the equipment will output standard pulsed electromagnetic fields for treatment; if you are assigned to the control group, the equipment will only simulate sound, vibration, and the operation process without generating magnetic field output, which is used for comparing the study effects. During each treatment session, you only need to sit quietly and cooperate, without any additional exercise. 5\) Follow-up assessment time and content: You are required to cooperate with the researchers to complete assessments at two time points: before the first treatment (baseline) and 2-5 days after completing 24 treatments. For each assessment, you need to cooperate with the researchers to complete the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, calf circumference measurement, BIA-SMI, grip strength test, sarcopenia screening scale (SARC-F), 4-meter usual walking speed, Fried frailty phenotype assessment, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), single-leg standing time, five sit-to-stand tests (5STS), pain score (VAS), European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions 5 Levels (EQ-5D-5L), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), intrinsic capacity assessment (IC), Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale, Mini-Nutrient Assessment (MNA), Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-SF), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The tests you have completed during the screening period will not be repeated during the baseline assessment. Additionally, the following laboratory tests are required for each assessment: follistatin, myostatin, IGF-1, interleukin-6 (IL-6), TNF-α, growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), peripheral blood free mitochondrial DNA content, clusterin C-terminal fragment-22 (CAF-22), and metabolomics. These tests require approximately 15ml of venous blood (3-5 tubes of blood). Throughout the study, the researchers will monitor and record any adverse events and safety-related situations. 6\) Upon completion of all 24 treatments and the final assessment, you will have completed your participation in this study, and will then return to your regular health management and clinical diagnosis and treatment.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether lower-limb rehabilitation robot training combined with nutrition education can improve muscle mass and physical function in adults aged 60 years or older with sarcopenia. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does lower-limb rehabilitation robot training improve muscle mass and body composition? 2. Does the training improve muscle strength, walking ability, balance, and physical function? Researchers will compare participants who receive lower-limb rehabilitation robot training plus nutrition education with participants who receive usual care, including exercise and nutrition education, to see whether adding robot-assisted training provides additional benefits. Participants will: 1. Complete assessments before the intervention, around week 5, and after week 8. 2. Receive either 8 weeks of lower-limb rehabilitation robot training using the MRG-P110 plus nutrition education, or usual care including exercise and nutrition education. 3. Complete assessments of body composition, muscle strength, walking ability, balance, and health-related quality of life.

The SARCO-COX study evaluates whether screening for sarcopenia (loss of muscle strength and mass) in adults aged 65 years or older with advanced hip osteoarthritis, followed by a structured postoperative exercise program, improves recovery after total hip replacement surgery compared with standard care. Participants will undergo assessments of muscle strength, muscle mass, physical function, pain, and quality of life before surgery and during follow-up. Blood samples and a small muscle biopsy obtained during the planned surgery will be analyzed to study biomarkers related to muscle health. A total of 150 people are expected to participate in this study. Participants will be divided into three groups: * Group 1: People with sarcopenia who will take part in an exercise programme following surgery. * Group 2: People with sarcopenia who will receive the usual care and follow-up after their surgery. * Group 3: people without sarcopenia who are undergoing surgery and will receive the usual care and follow-up. The study aims to determine whether early identification and targeted rehabilitation of sarcopenia can improve functional outcomes and quality of life after hip replacement.

Childhood cancer survivors experience premature declines in muscle mass, strength, and physical function that contribute to morbidity and early mortality. The biological mechanisms driving these impairments are heterogeneous and poorly understood. This observational study aims to characterize distinct muscle health endotypes in adult survivors of childhood cancer using advanced imaging, neuromuscular testing, and functional assessment. Survivors with reduced muscle health and community controls will undergo multimodal magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy, nerve conduction studies, surface electromyography, body composition assessment, and physical performance testing during a single study visit integrated into an ongoing cohort evaluation. Identifying mechanistic endotypes of impaired muscle health will support development of targeted interventions to preserve function and improve long-term outcomes in childhood cancer survivors. Primary Objective: \- Characterize reduced muscle health endotypes in childhood cancer survivors. Secondary Objective: \- Identify specific treatment and lifestyle related risk factors for each reduced muscle health endotype. Exploratory Objective: \- Host germline genetics will be associated with specific muscle endotypes.

This prospective cohort study aims to evaluate the association between preoperative sarcopenia and postoperative outcomes in patients aged 60 years or older undergoing elective surgery for gastrointestinal cancer. Sarcopenia will be assessed preoperatively using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2) criteria, including muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical performance, together with the Strength, Assistance with walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, and Falls (SARC-F) questionnaire and calf circumference measurement. Participants will be followed for 90 days after surgery. Postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and 30-day and 90-day mortality will be evaluated.

To evaluate the effects of a 12-week multi-component nutritional formula on World Health Organization (WHO) Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) intrinsic capacity domains, physical function, and metabolic biomarkers in community-dwelling older adults. Besides, the investigators use standardized ICOPE Step 2 assessments, functional capacity scales, and metabolic biomarkers (including GDF-15, HOMA-IR, TyG index, LAP, and FIB-4) as outcome measures to validate whether the multi-component nutritional supplement could improve intrinsic capacity and health in older adults.

This study examines the acceptability, feasibility, and safety in developing a prehabilitation program for head and neck cancer patients. The purpose of this research is to access the safety and acceptability of using a prehabilitation program before head and neck cancer surgery.

A Multi-center, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of EN001 in Patients with Sarcopenia

This study is investigating changes to the proteins in skeletal muscle that contribute to reduced muscle size and muscle function that occurs with aging.

Sarcopenia prevention and management are highly prioritised goals in the Healthy Ageing agenda. The study aims to: 1) evaluate the effects of the digital-enhanced, volunteer-engaged collaborative care pathway to improve sarcopenia, reduce fall risk, and increase health-related quality of life (HRQL) among community-dwelling older adults with risk of, or diagnosed with, sarcopenia; 2) evaluate whether the volunteers who received health coach capacity training and supported the intervention experienced health benefits across time; 3) explore the engagement experiences and perceived effects of elderly participants with sarcopenia during the program; 4) evaluate the intervention implementation process and effects from the perspectives of social care workers.

This study investigates the role of a structured physical therapy (PT) program in managing cancer-induced cachexia (CIC) by targeting muscle-bone crosstalk. Cancer-induced cachexia leads to severe muscle wasting, systemic inflammation, and functional decline, which often limits treatment tolerance and quality of life. While exercise is known to attenuate protein breakdown and modulate muscle-derived cytokines (myokines), its specific impact on muscle-bone signaling in non-metastatic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy remains underexplored. In this randomized controlled trial (RCT), patients aged 40 to 60 receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy are assigned to either a control group receiving standard chemotherapy and nutritional counseling, or an experimental group receiving a progressive 3-month exercise program (combining aerobic treadmill training and resistance exercises) alongside standard care. The study aims to evaluate changes in biomarker levels (such as myokines and osteokines) and functional physical outcomes to determine whether targeted exercise can effectively attenuate cachexia and improve rehabilitation outcomes prior to surgery

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will evaluate whether daily calcium beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (calcium-HMB) plus vitamin D3 preserves muscle mass, physical function, and resting metabolism in adults aged 65 to 85 years with type 2 diabetes who are newly starting semaglutide as part of usual clinical care. Participants will receive calcium-HMB plus vitamin D3 or matching placebo for approximately 6 months. The primary outcome is change in appendicular lean mass measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry from baseline to month 6. Secondary assessments include body composition, muscle strength, physical performance, gait, physical activity, resting metabolic rate, metabolic measures, and whole-body quantitative computed tomography. An optional mechanistic substudy of up to 36 participants will include D3-creatine dilution, nonradioactive stable isotope infusions, repeated blood sampling, a standardized meal, breath sampling, and vastus lateralis muscle biopsies at baseline and month 6.

Dysphagia and sarcopenia are common complications in critically ill patients and are associated with increased morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, nutritional complications, and poorer clinical outcomes. Muscle ultrasound is a non-invasive bedside technique that may provide objective information on muscle mass and help identify patients at increased risk of these conditions. This single-center observational diagnostic accuracy study will evaluate the association between masseter muscle thickness measured by ultrasound and the presence of dysphagia in critically ill adult patients after extubation and in patients with a tracheostomy. Dysphagia will be assessed using the Modified Volume-Viscosity Swallow Test (MECVVm). Ultrasound measurements of the masseter and rectus femoris muscles will also be evaluated to investigate their relationship with sarcopenia and relevant clinical outcomes. The study aims to determine the diagnostic performance of masseter muscle ultrasound for identifying dysphagia, establish ultrasound cut-off values associated with dysphagia and sarcopenia, and explore whether these measurements may facilitate early risk stratification in critically ill patients.