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Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine
Published in: Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Research article

Lower albumin levels are associated with frailty measures, trace elements, and an inflammation marker in a cross-sectional study in Tanushimaru

Authors: Maki Yamamoto, Hisashi Adachi, Mika Enomoto, Ako Fukami, Sachiko Nakamura, Yume Nohara, Akiko Sakaue, Nagisa Morikawa, Hitoshi Hamamura, Kenta Toyomasu, Yoshihiro Fukumoto

Published in: Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

There is little data on the association between the lower nutrition represented by serum albumin levels and related factors in a general population. The present study aimed to determine whether the albumin level positioned as some kind of biomarker with frailty measures, trace elements, and an inflammation marker.

Methods

In 2018, we performed an epidemiological survey in 1368 subjects who resided in Tanushimaru, Japan, in which we examined the blood chemistry including albumin, trace elements, hormone levels, and carotid ultrasonography. Albumin levels were categorized into 4 groups (G1 [3.2–3.9 mg/dL], G2 [4.0–4.3 mg/dL], G3 [4.4–4.6 mg/dL], and G4 [4.7–5.3 mg/dL]). The participants underwent measurements of handgrip strength and were tested by asking to walk 5 m. Their cognitive functions were evaluated by the mini-mental state examination (MMSE).

Results

Multiple stepwise regression analysis demonstrated that albumin levels were significantly and independently associated with age (inversely), systolic blood pressures, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), MMSE score, frailty measures (handgrip strength), an inflammation marker (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), hormones (growth hormone (inversely) and insulin-like growth factor-1), and trace elements (calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc), with a linear trend.

Conclusions

Lower albumin levels, even in the normal range, were found to be related factors of frailty measures, trace elements, and an inflammation marker in a general population.
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Metadata
Title
Lower albumin levels are associated with frailty measures, trace elements, and an inflammation marker in a cross-sectional study in Tanushimaru
Authors
Maki Yamamoto
Hisashi Adachi
Mika Enomoto
Ako Fukami
Sachiko Nakamura
Yume Nohara
Akiko Sakaue
Nagisa Morikawa
Hitoshi Hamamura
Kenta Toyomasu
Yoshihiro Fukumoto
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine / Issue 1/2021
Print ISSN: 1342-078X
Electronic ISSN: 1347-4715
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12199-021-00946-0

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