Systematic Exploration of the Association Between Vitamin A Intakes and Sarcopenia Prevalence in American Adults

Sarcopenia, characterized by an age-related progressive loss of muscle mass and strength, presents significant health concerns. Recommending dietary nutrition emerges as a viable strategy to counteract muscle deterioration. Vitamin A, indispensable throughout the human life cycle and unattainable through endogenous synthesis, necessitates intake via diet. However, the direct correlation between sarcopenia prevalence and vitamin A intake remains unclear. This study systematically investigated the relationship between sarcopenia prevalence and vitamin A intake, including retinol and some carotenoids, across diverse races and genders utilizing multiple statistical analyses. Mixture analysis revealed significant positive correlations between total vitamin A intake and muscle mass among American adult males (Male: OR: 1.019, 95% CI: 1.010-1.027, p < 0.001). We also observed the gender-specific results, with retinol playing a more significant role in enhancing muscle mass for males, while certain carotenoids were found to be more influential in females. Moreover, inflammation and oxidative stress mediated the relationship between vitamin A intake and sarcopenia prevalence in both genders. There may be a gender- and race-specific relationship between dietary vitamin A intake and sarcopenia. Further prospective studies are imperative to elucidate the association between vitamin A intake and sarcopenia prevalence.