The Relationship Between MOTS-c K14Q Polymorphism and Sarcopenia, Blood Lipids, and Mental Health in Older Korean Adults

<b>Background/objectives:</b> An East Asian-specific 1382A>C polymorphism in the mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA type-c results in an amino acid substitution from Lys (K) to Gln (Q) at the 14th amino acid residue. This study investigated the association between m.1382A>C polymorphism and sarcopenia, blood lipids, and mental health in older Korean adults. <b>Methods:</b> The study included 683 community-dwelling Korean adults (345 men and 338 women) aged 65 years and older. The m.1382A>C polymorphism was genotyped with a 7500 real-time PCR system. Handgrip strength (HGS) was measured, and appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM) mass was calculated. Demographics, blood lipids, falling risk, nutritional intake, cognition function, and depression were additionally measured. <b>Results:</b> Men carrying the C allele had significantly higher ASM (21.6 ± 3.0 vs. 19.5 ± 2.2 kg, <i>p</i> = 0.018), ASM/height² (7.76 ± 0.76 vs. 7.14 ± 0.62 kg/m², <i>p</i> = 0.012), lean mass (53.3 ± 6.2 vs. 46.5 ± 4.0 kg, <i>p</i> < 0.001), left HGS (33.3 ± 5.0 vs. 28.9 ± 4.0 kg, <i>p</i> = 0.010), and right HGS (35.6 ± 5.3 vs. 30.9 ± 4.3 kg, <i>p</i> = 0.009) than men carrying the A allele. The genotype differences in ASM (<i>p</i> = 0.017), ASM/height² (<i>p</i> = 0.011), lean mass (<i>p</i> < 0.001), left HGS (<i>p</i> = 0.010), and right HGS (<i>p</i> = 0.009) remained significant even after adjusting for all measured covariates. By contrast, no significant differences in other measured parameters were found between women carrying the A and C alleles. <b>Conclusions:</b> Our study findings indicate that the m.1382A>C polymorphism may be used as a genetic biomarker of age-related sarcopenia in older Korean men.