Gut bacteria patterns in people with sarcopenia and using them to help develop probiotics

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This observational study will compare the composition of gut microbiota in three groups: older adults aged 65–90 with sarcopenia, older adult controls, and younger adult controls. Participants will provide clinical assessments and stool samples, and microbiome sequencing and bioinformatic analyses will identify differences in bacterial taxa and functional profiles. The data will be used to highlight microbial features associated with sarcopenia and to inform selection of candidate probiotic strains. No investigational treatments are given as part of the protocol; the goal is to generate foundational data for future probiotic development.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion criteria

1. Sarcopenia patient group

   * Individuals aged 65 to 90 years
   * Meet the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia based on the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) guidelines:
   * Low appendicular skeletal muscle mass

     * DEXA: \<7.0 kg/m² (men), \<5.4 kg/m² (women)
     * BIA: \<7.0 kg/m² (men), \<5.7 kg/m² (women)
   * Low muscle strength

     * Handgrip strength: \<28 kg (men), \<18 kg (women) or
   * Low physical performance

     * 6-meter walk speed \<1.0 m/s
     * 5-chair stand test ≥12 seconds
     * Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score ≤9
   * Voluntarily agree to participate in the clinical study and sign the informed consent form
2. Older adult control group

   * Individuals aged 65 to 90 years
   * Voluntarily agree to participate in the clinical study and sign the informed consent form
3. Young adult control group

   * Individuals aged 20 to 50 years
   * Voluntarily agree to participate in the clinical study and sign the informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

* Individuals currently under treatment for severe diseases of the cardiovascular, immune, respiratory, gastrointestinal/hepatic and biliary, renal/urinary, neurological, psychiatric systems, infectious diseases, or malignant tumors (Exception: skin tumors other than melanoma are excluded; cancer survivors may participate if more than 5 years have passed since complete remission).
* Individuals who have difficulty performing independent activities of daily living due to musculoskeletal or neurological diseases, or cognitive impairment (e.g., those with spinal disorders requiring surgery or having walking limitations).
* Individuals who regularly consume alcohol according to WHO daily intake standards (≥ 40 g/day for men, ≥ 20 g/day for women).
* Heavy smokers (≥ 20 cigarettes/day).
* Individuals with AST (GOT) or ALT (GPT) levels ≥ 3 times the upper limit of normal established by the testing institution.
* Patients with uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg, measured after the subject has rested for 10 minutes).
* Patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (HbA1c \> 7.0%).
* Individuals with TSH ≤ 0.1 μIU/mL or ≥ 10 μIU/mL.
* Individuals deemed unsuitable for other reasons at the discretion of the investigator.

Where it's running

• Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
  Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Jae-Young Lim — Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
• Study coordinator: Jae-Young Lim
• Email: drlim1@snu.ac.kr
• Phone: • +821053900373

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.