Table 3 Lifestyle behaviours, components of metabolic syndrome and sociodemographic characteristics of the cohort and those with and without sarcopenia

Components of metabolic syndrome, inflammation, iron and vitamin D

N = 121

N = 88

N = 33

 Metabolic Syndrome n(%)

89 (73.0)

60 (68.2)

29 (85.3)

0.047

 Waist Circumference (cm)

99.7 ± 15.1

97.1 ± 14.8

106.4 ± 13.7

0.002

 Diastolic Blood Pressure (mmHg)

71.2 (64.7–78.9)

70.5 ± 12.1

74.3 ± 11.2

0.059

 Systolic Blood Pressure (mmHg)

131.5 (118.9–172.7)

131.5 (119.1–148.4)

130.7 (117.7–146.0)

0.873

 Glucose (mmol/L)

5.1 (4.8–6.4)

5.0 (4.7–6.4)

5.2 (4.8–6.2)

0.517

 Triglycerides (mmol/L)

1.1 (0.8–1.6)

1.1 (0.8–1.6)

1.2 (1.0–1.8)

0.049

 High-Density Lipoprotein (mmol/L)

1.3 (1.1–1.6)

1.3 (1.1–1.6)

1.3 (1.1–1.5)

0.440

 C-Reactive Protein (mg/L)*

5.7 (2.2–8.7)

4.1 (1.9–7.4)

7.9 (4.2–12.8)

< 0.001

 Ferritin (ng/mL)*

112.1 (63.2–180.4)

127.2 (73.1–196.3)

85.0 (54.1–135.9)

0.014

 Vitamin D-25OH (ng/mL)

13.0 (11.0–17.0)

13.0 (11.0–17.0)

13.0 (10.8–16.8)

0.771

Sociodemographics

N = 122

N = 88

N = 34

 Asset Index (n)

8 (6–9)

8 (6–9)

8 (6–9)

0.599

 Children supported in household (n)

1 (0–3)

1 (0–2)

2 (1–3)

0.024

 Housing Density

1.0 (0.6–1.4)

1.0 (0.6–1.3)

1.0 (0.6–1.8)

0.474

 Food Insecurity (HFIAS)

6 (3–11)

7 (3–13)

6 (3–8)

0.088

 Estimated Monthly Food Cost (US$)

90 (67–167)

90 (60–127)

93 (67–122)

0.738

 Previous Smoker n(%)

5 (4.1)

2 (2.3)

3 (8.8)

0.036

 Current Smoker n(%)

11 (9.0)

11 (12.5)

0 (0.0)

0.145

Physical activity and sedentary behaviour

N = 116

N = 83

N = 33

 Daily light PA (%)

37.1 ± 9.3

37.9 ± 9.8

35.0 ± 7.4

0.127

 Daily MVPA (%)

1.0 (0.3–1.8)

1.0 (0.3–1.8)

0.95 (0.2–1.9)

0.765

 Light PA (min/day)

326.2 ± 91.0

335.1 ± 94.9

303.4 ± 76.9

0.097

 MVPA (min/day)

9.1 (2.3–15.9)

9.1 (2.5–15.9)

8.4 (1.4–15.8)

0.757

 Daily Step count (n)

6848 (5122–8784)

7574 ± 3417

6037 ± 2431

0.020

 Upright (min/day)

415.3 ± 125.9

422.8 ± 126.5

396.5 ± 124.5

0.312

 Standing (min/day)

317.4 ± 107.0

319.6 ± 104.7

311.7 ± 114.2

0.720

 Stepping (min/day)

97.9 ± 38.7

103.1 ± 40.9

84.8 ± 29.0

0.021

 Sitting (min/day)

402.4 ± 113.4

401.1 ± 106.6

405.7 ± 130.7

0.973

 Napping (min/day)

28.3 (0.0–64.1)

35.4 (0–67.4)

28.2 (13.7–51.8)

0.674

 Sleeping (min/day)

568.6 (499.7–629.1)

566.1 (499.5–629.8)

582.3 (499.4–629.8)

0.592

 Sitting bouts > 30 min (n/day)

4 ± 1

4 ± 1

4 ± 2

0.414

 Sitting bouts > 60 min (n/day)

1 (1–2)

1 (1–1)

1 (1–2)

0.206

 Sitting time > 30 min (min/day)

213.8 ± 92.3

206.5 ± 84.6

232.3 ± 108.6

0.175

 Sitting time > 60 min (min/day)

92.8 (51.1–161.8)

89.5 (51.0–147.8)

104.7 (52.8–192.1)

0.259

 Sit to stand transitions (n/day)

38 ± 12

40 (32–46)

33 (26–42)

0.007

Dietary intake: Macronutrients

N = 103

N = 74

N = 29

 Energy Intake (KJ)

7646 (5994–9991)

7870 (6057–10,361)

7462 (5903–8678)

0.278

 Carbohydrates (%EI)

64.8 ± 7.2

64.8 ± 7.0

64.9 ± 7.7

0.940

 Protein (%EI)

12.3 ± 2.1

12.3 ± 2.0

12.5 ± 2.5

0.648

 Animal Protein (%EI)

5.8 ± 2.4

5.7 (4.0–7.7)

5.4 (4.1–7.7)

0.883

 Plant Protein (%EI)

6.5 ± 1.5

6.4 (4.5–7.3)

6.3 (5.3–7.6)

0.797

 Total Fat (%EI)

21.2 (17.5–25.1)

21.3 (17.4–25.1)

21.2 (17.1–24.3)

0.843

 PUFA (%EI)

5.7 (4.1–7.5)

5.7 (4.1–7.4)

5.7 (4.0–8.1)

0.889

 MUFA (%EI)

6.7 (5.2–8.1)

6.7 (5.1–8.1)

6.6 (5.3–8.2)

0.982

 Saturated Fat (%EI)

6.5 ± 2.2

6.5 ± 2.3

6.6 ± 2.2

0.901

 Added sugar (%EI)

12.7 (8.6–18.0)

11.7 (8.4–18.1)

13.3 (9.0–18.0)

0.585

 Cholesterol (g/4200 KJ)

73.7 (53.2–109.8)

72.7 (52.6–108.9)

88.4 ± 46.9

0.730

 Fibre (g/4200 KJ)

14.1 (11.6–17.0)

14.1 (11.6–16.8)

13.9 (11.6–17.3)

0.708

Dietary intake: Food Groups

N = 110

N = 81

N = 29

 Milk and Dairy products (%EI)

7.2 (3.6–12.4)

7.8 (3.5–12.4)

7.0 (3.6–12.6)

0.585

 Fats and oils (%EI)

3.4 (1.2–6.4)

3.5 (1.3–6.2)

3.0 (1.0–8.0)

0.916

 Animal protein foods (%EI)

9.4 (5.7–13.6)

9.0 (5.5–13.1)

10.1 (6.1–14.9)

0.362

 Fruit (%EI)

6.4 (3.0–11.1)

6.1 (3.0–10.8)

7.2 (2.9–13.6)

0.900

 Vegetables (%EI)

2.6 (1.6–4.9)

2.6 (1.5–4.8)

2.4 (1.7–5.9)

0.585

 Legumes (%EI)

1.7 (0.0–3.6)

1.8 (0.0–3.1)

1.5 (0.0–5.2)

0.758

 Cooked Porridge (%EI)

8.4 (5.0–15.8)

9.0 (4.3–16.5)

7.8 (5.1–14.9)

0.732

 Starchy grains (%EI)

31.1 ± 11.4

31.4 ± 10.7

30.1 ± 13.4

0.596

 Savoury snacks, dishes and sauces (%EI)

0.8 (0.0–2.0)

0.8 (0.0–2.3)

0.7 (0.1–1.8)

0.948

 Sugar and sugary foods (%EI)

14.9 (10.1–20.8)

14.8 (9.6–21.2)

15.1 (10.4–19.8)

0.922

 Nuts and seeds (%EI)

0 (0–1.9)

0 (0–2.0)

0 (0–1.8)

0.905

 Alcohol (%EI)

0 (0–0)

0 (0–0)

0 (0–0)

0.225