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REVIEW article

Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Microorganisms in Vertebrate Digestive Systems
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1526764

Gut Dysbiosis in Primary Sarcopenia: Potential Mechanisms and Implications for Novel Microbiome-Based Therapeutic Strategies

Provisionally accepted
Wei Yang Wei Yang *Si Sicong Si Sicong Wei-Hua Wang Wei-Hua Wang Jing Li Jing Li Yi-Xin Ma Yi-Xin Ma Huan Zhao Huan Zhao Jia Liu Jia Liu
  • Department of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, China National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Medicine, Beijing, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Primary sarcopenia is characterized by a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and physical function that occurs with aging. Despite the related adverse or even serious health outcomes, no medications are currently available for treating primary sarcopenia. Here, we discuss recent advancements in understanding the mechanistic role of gut microbiota-muscle cross-talk in primary sarcopenia, and the therapeutic implications. The mechanistic insights encompass a causal role of gut dysbiosis in primary sarcopenia, potentially mediated through gut microbiota-derived bioactive metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), secondary bile acids, and their associated signaling pathways, which may be translated into the development of new microbiome-based treatment and diagnostic approaches. Furthermore, we identify challenges that need addressing in future studies to facilitate the translation into potential novel treatment and differential diagnosis for older individuals with sarcopenia.

    Keywords: Sarcopenia, primary sarcopenia, muscle mass, Gut Microbiota, probiotic, short-chain fatty acids

    Received: 12 Nov 2024; Accepted: 13 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Yang, Sicong, Wang, Li, Ma, Zhao and Liu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Wei Yang, Department of Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, China National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Medicine, Beijing, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.