Sarcopenia not associated with altered serum albumin levels in highly functional, community-dwelling older women

Low serum albumin levels are related to sarcopenia, but further research on this relationship is needed given the disparity of sarcopenia assessment methods. This cross-sectional study included 94 community-dwelling women aged 70 years and over. Serum albumin; Barthel index; Charlson comorbidity index; pain and nutritional parameters were assessed. Our results showed that 24 had sarcopenia according to EWGSOP2 criteria (mean 77.8 years, standard deviation (SD, 6.37), and 70 did not (mean 75.2 (SD 5.18) years). No significant differences in albumin levels were found between women with versus without sarcopenia (mean 4.18 (SD 0.23) g/dL vs. 4.11 (SD 0.22) g/dL, p=0.235). Serum albumin levels are within the normal range in community-dwelling older women with sarcopenia, similar to levels seen in older women without sarcopenia. Albumin levels correlate positively with functional parameters and nutrition and negatively with comorbidity. Screening and assessment of sarcopenia should be performed even if albumin parameters are within normal ranges.