Association of dietary patterns with sarcopenia in adults aged 50 years and older.

A high adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern, characterized by increased consumption of legumes, cereals, fruits, vegetables, and limited amounts of meat, fish, and eggs, is positively associated with handgrip strength and appendicular skeletal muscle mass. The highest adherence to this dietary model is associated with the lowest odds of low muscle strength and sarcopenia. Despite the changes brought about by urbanization in southern Italy compared to the past, our findings continue to affirm the superior benefits of the Mediterranean diet in postponing the onset of frailty among older adults when compared to other dietary patterns that are rich in animal foods.