Low Creatinine-to-Cystatin C Ratio Tied to Lower Muscle Volume in Midlife Women

MONDAY, March 31, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Among middle-aged women, low creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio (CCR) at baseline is associated with lower fat-free muscle volumes and poorer gait speeds 6.6 years later, according to a study published online March 18 in Menopause.

Darren Yuen Zhang Tan, from the National University of Singapore, and colleagues examined the longitudinal relationship of baseline CCR with muscle volumes measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and objectively measured muscle strength and physical performance after a follow-up of 6.6 years. Participants included 891 women (baseline mean age, 56.2 ± 6.0 years) who attended baseline and follow-up visits and underwent objectively measured muscle strength and physical performance assessments and MRI.

The researchers observed an association between baseline low CCR and lower MRI-measured muscle volumes and poorer physical function 6.6 years later. After adjustment for covariates, mean fat-free thigh muscle of the low-CCR group was 0.350 L lower than in the high-CCR group. In addition, there were associations seen for the low-CCR group with 0.029 m/s slower mean usual gait and 0.049 m/s slower mean narrow gait speeds. No association was seen for CCR with handgrip strength and repeated chair stands and one-leg stand tests.

“Because both muscle volume and poorer gait speed are constituents of current diagnostic criteria of sarcopenia, CCR may be a tool to help identify midlife women at risk of developing early sarcopenia and associated probability of adverse health outcomes,” Stephanie Faubion, M.D., medical director of The Menopause Society, said in a statement. “Regardless of baseline risk, all midlife women should strive to mitigate loss of muscle mass with regular resistance training and adequate dietary protein intake to help prevent frailty as they age.”

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)