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Obestatin is associated to muscle strength, functional capacity and cognitive status in old women

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Abstract

Obestatin has been proposed to have anorexigenic and anti-ghrelin actions. The objective was to study obestatin concentrations in relation to handgrip strength, functional capacity and cognitive state in old women. The prospective study included 110 women (age, 76.93 ± 6.32) from the Mataró Ageing Study. Individuals were characterized by anthropometric variables, grip strength, Barthel and assessment of cognitive impairment [Mini Cognoscitive Examination (MCE) Spanish version], depressive status by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and frailty by the Fried criteria. Obestatin was measured by IRMA. Obestatin showed negative correlation to handgrip at basal time point (r = −0.220, p = 0.023) and at 2-year follow-up (r = −0.344, p = 0.002). Obestatin, divided into quartiles, showed a negative lineal association with handgrip: 11.03 ± 4.88 kg in first, 8.75 ± 4.08 kg in second, 8.11 ± 3.66 kg in third and 7.61 ± 4.08 kg in fourth quartile (p = 0.018). Higher obestatin levels were associated to increased weakness (categorized by handgrip of frailty criteria): 2.24 ± 0.42 ng/ml in weak vs. 1.87 ± 0.57 ng/ml in non-weak (p = 0.01). The decrease of either MCE or Barthel scores at 2-year follow-up was significantly higher in individuals in the fourth quartile of obestatin in comparison with individuals in the first quartile (p = 0.046 and p = 0.019, respectively). No association was found between obestatin and GDS score and neither with frailty as a condition. Obestatin is associated to low muscle strength, and impaired functional and cognitive capacity in old women participating in the Mataró Ageing Study.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Fondo Investigaciones Sanitarias Grant 07/0601. The authors have nothing to declare in relation to this article. Special thanks to Nicky Van Berckel for her English version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital Clínic i Universitari of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Mireia Mora

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain

    María Luisa Granada

  3. Research Unit and Ciberhep, Hospital de Mataró, Mataró, Spain

    Elisabet Palomera & Mateu Serra-Prat

  4. Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Ctra. del Canyet, s/n, 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain

    Manel Puig-Domingo

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  1. Mireia Mora
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  3. Elisabet Palomera
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  4. Mateu Serra-Prat
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  5. Manel Puig-Domingo
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The Mataró Ageing Study Group

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Correspondence to Manel Puig-Domingo.

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Authors’ contributions

M. Mora analysed the data, wrote the paper and had primary responsibility for final content. M.L. Granada conducted research and provided essential materials. E. Palomera analysed the data. M. Serra-Prat designed and conducted research. M. Puig-Domingo designed and conducted research, wrote the paper and had primary responsibility for final content.

The Mataró Ageing Study Group: Ayllón J, Buquet X, Bosch A, Burdoy E, Cademas I, Dordas J, Espinosa C, Falcón I, Gordillo M, Merino MJ, Mussoll J, Palomera E, Papiol M, Pous E, Pubill M, Puig J, Puig-Domingo M (Project co-director), Sanahuja J, Serra P, Serra-Prat M (Project co-director), Serrano C, Vilardebò A and Villarroya I.

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Mora, M., Granada, M.L., Palomera, E. et al. Obestatin is associated to muscle strength, functional capacity and cognitive status in old women. AGE 35, 2515–2523 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-013-9532-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-013-9532-0

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