Changes and correlation analysis of intestinal microflora composition, inflammatory index, and skeletal muscle mass in elderly patients with sarcopenia

Aim This study aimed to explore the alterations in characteristics of intestinal flora, inflammatory factors and skeletal muscle mass in elderly patients affected by sarcopenia, as well as the correlation among the three, in order to provide a reference for the early identification, intervention, and treatment of sarcopenia in elderly patients. Method A total of 206 elderly patients (≥60 years old) admitted to the Geriatric Outpatient Department of China Resources Wugang General Hospital were included in this study as the research participants. The differences in the general data, laboratory examination and intestinal flora in patients between the two groups were statistically analyzed, and the correlation between intestinal flora composition and skeletal muscle mass index, grip and inflammatory factors was also determined. Results The normal group and sarcopenia group exhibited a significant difference in the composition of the intestinal flora ( P < 0.05). The abundance of Escherichia‐Shigella between the two groups was negatively correlated with the patient's relative skeletal muscle mass index and positively correlated with the interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) level; moreover, Lacchnospira abundance was positively correlated with relative skeletal muscle mass index; Lactobacillus and Roseburia abundance were negatively correlated with IL‐6; and Lactobacillus , Lachnospira , and Eubacterium _rectale_group were positively correlated with grip, and the differences were statistically significant ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Overall, it was found that elderly patients with sarcopenia have intestinal flora disorders, and the abundance of such flora was negatively correlated with the relative skeletal muscle mass index, which was positively correlated with the IL‐6 level. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 140–146 .